In their half-naked attire equipped with traditional weapons, hundreds of Naga Sadhus protested near the Jagannath Temple here in
Puri on Friday evening against the encroachment of Languli Mutt by a fake seer and urged the administration to oust him immediately.
Claiming their entry rights into the mutt to perform Dhuni (holy fire), they demanded stringent actions against police team led by one John Naik of Singhadwara PS for disrespecting the holy flag and removing it from atop the mutt.
As many as five heads of Naga Cult from Kashi of UP namely Bijay Giri Maharaj, Bom Bom Puri Maharaj, Sidehswari Devi
Maharani, Bishnupuri Maharaj and Bishnu Giri Maharaj attended the protest near the Jagannath Temple. They held demonstration after they were blocked by police from entering the mutt.
However, they called off protests after the administration assured them of talks on Saturday.
On Saturday, an administrative delegation led by Sub-Collector Bhabataran Sahu met the Naga Sadhus and heard their grievances. A slew of demands made by them include abrogation of Section 144 from the mutt premises to facilitate the Sadhus to perform Dhuni, reconstruction of mutt at the very spot where it had been demolished by the administration and recovery of lands from illegal occupations. However, the administrative team assured them of carrying forwards the demands to higher-ups for a decision.
As per Sadhu Vaisnav Puri, the Languli Mutt is presently under illegal occupation of one Somanath Puri, who is heading the shrine with forged papers. Beyond his rights, Somanath has also diverted acres of valuables lands of the mutt to other people, said Vaisnav Puri.