Cops ‘misbehave’ with minor girl at Jagannath

The Asian Age.  | Akshaya Kumar Sahoo

India, All India

Sources said the victim along with her parents had come for a darshan at Srimandir in the morning.

However, no police official was available to comment on the matter. Sources said office of the state director general of police has sought a report from the Puri police on the matter.

Bhubaneswar: A day after the standoff between police and servitors disrupted the daily rituals at the centuries-old Srimandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath, Puri,  a minor girl was on Saturday allegedly misbehaved by some police personnel inside the temple.

Sources said the victim along with her parents had come for a darshan at Srimandir in the morning. While she was offering prayers to the deities near ‘Bahara Katha’ inside the temple, a cop allegedly misbehaved with her. Later, the girl lodged a complaint against the cop at Singhadwara police station here.

However, no police official was available to comment on the matter. Sources said office of the state director general of police has sought a report from the Puri police on the matter.

On Friday, the temple gates were closed while rituals of the deities halted for over 13 hours following a standoff between police and servitors over entry of three West Bengal devotees on December 27.

The issue was resolved after several rounds of talks between the state administration and the servitors.

Read more...