Puri: The Puri district judge today granted bail to 25 persons accused of being involved in staging a violence in the pilgrim city during a bandh on October 3 over introduction of ‘Dhadi Darshan’ or ‘Queue System’ inside Puri Srimandir.
As per sources, the judge had earlier granted bail to two lawyers and 23 other accused including servitors and lawyers were granted bail by the judge today after hearing of their bail pleas.
It is pertinent to mention here that a large-scale violence had gripped Puri town during the 12-hour shut down called by socio-cultural outfit Sri Jagannath Sena protesting introduction of queue system for devotees at the Srimandir on October 3.
During the bandh, protestors vandalized property at the residence of local MLA and Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) office and the tourist information centre. Besides, the mob also attacked police officials near the temple gate, torched shoe stands, traffic posts and demolished barricades. As many as 15 police officials were injured while trying to control the violence.
Sources said as many as 17 cases were registered and a total of 125 persons were arrested in connection with the incident. The Singhadwar Police had arrested 69 people while 56 persons were nabbed by the Town Police after examining CCTV camera footages of prominent locations where the violence had erupted.