Two servitors of the Shree Jagannath Temple here were arrested on Friday by the Singhadwar police for allegedly
misbehaving with Puri district Collector Arvind Agarwal during the recent Niladri Bije rituals, informed Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi.
The arrested Sevayats are Surya Narayan Pratihari and Rahgunath Khuntia. While Pratihari was arrested early in the morning, Khuntia was nabbed in the afternoon. More than 15 servitors have been identified in connection with the incident after examination of CCTV footages, the SP said. Out of the 15 Sevayats, two have already been arrested on charges of attacking mediapersons during the Niladri Bije ritual, he added.
“Two Sevayats were arrested today for misbehaving with the Collector. After examining CCTV footages thoroughly, we have identified 15 to 20 (guilty) servitors. Four police teams have been formed to locate and arrest them. Warrants will be issued against the accused servitors if they fail to surrender by today,” Sarangi said. Police have so far arrested eight servitors for creating disturbance during Niladri Bije. While six servitors were earlier arrested for attacking mediapersons, two were arrested on Friday for misbehaving with the Collector.
Sarangi said police would move court on Saturday to seek search warrants against the absconding accused servitors. He also said that the properties of the Sevayats who indulged in misconduct would be attached after the issuance of warrants if they don’t turn up bySaturday.
“Four teams are searching for the erring servitors, who have been identified based on the complaint of the Collector. I want to inform them through the media that legal action will be taken against them. Tomorrow we will urge the court to issue search warrants against them. After this, we will go for attachment of their properties,” Sarangi stated.
The SP also warned any persons giving shelter to these Sevayats that t they would too face legal action.
Meanwhile on Friday, three of the absconding servitors moved the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail. They are Damodar Mahasuar, Jayakrushna Mahasuar and Harinarayan Khuntia.
In another development in the day, the Puri Non-Gazetted Officers’ Association handed over a memorandum to SP Sarangi demanding strong action against the servitors who had misbehaved with the Collector and even allegedly threatened to kill him if he came in their way. In a related development, the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has sought an increase in the number of members of the Judicial Commission instituted to suggest reforms in the management of the Shree Jagannath Temple.
VHP Odisha chapter executive chairman Badrinath Pattnaik told the media, “Instead of one, there should be three members in the commission to suggest reforms so that various issues can be addressed.”
The Hindu outfit also demanded suspension of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief Suresh Mohapatra and resignation of law Minister Arun Sahoo for failing to execute the Niladri Bije ritual peacefully. It may be recalled that some Sevayats had an altercation with the Collector during the Niladri Bije ritual when he confronted them after they and their kin climbed the Taladhwaj chariot in clear violation of the High Court and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) orders. The incident had led to the delay in the conduct of rituals.
Moments later, the Sevayats had a scuffle with mediapersons while the latter were trying to ascertain from the Nayak of the Chhattisha Nijoga the reason leading to the delay in the rituals.