Two Kaudias and five police personnel were injured in a clash at the lokanath temple here on Monday. The condition of a Kaudiya was stated to be critical and he was admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital.
Sources said the Kaudias had an altercation with temple sevayats over pouring water on the Shiva linga in the shrine. The other kaudias approached the police and alleged that while they were waiting for hours, the servitors allowed other devotees into the temple by taking money.
But when the police personnel did not respond, they protested against the former vehemently, leading to the clash. The police had to resort to a lathicharge to control the situation.
The police detained three persons and began investigation into the incident.
Puri district Collector Arabind Agarwal and SP Sarthak Sarangi rushed to the temple and pacified the angry devotees.
Sub-Collector Madhusudan Dash, who is the chief of the lokanath Temple Trust, said the fee for pouring water on the deity is fixed at Rs 20 and a devotee has to get a ticket. At the time of pouring water, he has to show the ticket and need not pay money to any servitor.
A major part of the Rs 20 goes to the servitors’ fund and the remaining part to the account of the trust board.
He said he has directed police to nab the servitor who allegedly demanded money and assaulted the devotee.