West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee visited the Shree Jagannath Temple here at about 5.45 pm amid tight security cover on Wednesday.
Administrator (Niti) Mahesh Panigrahi and temple chief security officer Prafulla Mishra escorted her into the temple while scores of police personnel ensured her security. She offered prayers to Kasi Biswanath at the entrance of the temple and then was escorted to the main temple.
She offered prayers to lord Jagannath and his siblings remaining at a distance from Baharkath put up for the ongoing repairs to the Jagamohan by the ASI. She too paid respects to the pundits of the Muktimandap who blessed her with reciting Swasthibachan. Then, she went to Bimala, Mahalakshmi and Bhubaneswari temples in the main complex and offered prayers. After twenty-five minutes, she left the temple.
Jagannath Badagrahi Jagannath Swain Mahapatra accompanied Banerjee into the temple. She was given a Khandua, a religious apron of lord Jagannath, while she was returning from the shrine.
Police detained two Bajrang Dal activists and two BJP workers while trying to show black flags at Banerjee near the temple.
Earlier on Tuesday, servitor leader Somnath Khuntia had been detained by police for threatening to prevent Banerjee’s entry into the temple on the ground that she promotes beef eating culture.
Banerjee would leave the town on Thursday evening, said sources.