The Simhadwar police on Tuesday arrested one Chandan Khuntia, a servitor of the Sri Jagannath temple, for attacking a devotee family and snatching away Rs 16,000. Sanatan Naik of Ranital in Bhadrak district, in his complaint with the Simhadwar police, stated that at about 10 am on Tuesday he along with his family went to the Sri Jagannath temple to have darshan of the deities. After offering prayers to the deities during the Sahan Mela (free public darshan) while they were returning at Kalahat Dwar in the temple, one Chandan Khuntia asked him to pay dakshina (fee). When he refused to pay, Chandan misbehaved with his daughters and wife in filthy language. When Naik protested, he was severely beaten and left with bleeding injury.
Khuntia snatched Rs 16,000 from his pocket. Since human blood was spilled in the temple’s inner floor, as per tradition, Mahasnan (purification of temple) of deities was observed soon. The police registered a criminal case and arrested Khuntia but were yet to recover the money. Police said investigation was on and efforts were on to recover the money.