Balikuda: Badagaon village under this police limits in Jagatsinghpur district was in the news after a priest of the village Shiva temple allegedly denied the rights of offerings to the deity to a Dalit girl, a report said Tuesday.
Two village elders supported the priest when discussions were taking place to resolve the problem. This divided the village, disturbing peace in the area. While one of the groups supported the girl, another group threw its weight behind the priest.
The matter came to the fore after the girl’s father Basant Kumar Sethy lodged a complaint against the priest and two villagers in Balikuda police station Monday. Police registered a case and started an investigation.
The matter was compounded when the office bearers of the state scheduled caste association visited Balikuda police station and demanded arrest of the accused. They warned of an agitation if no action is taken within eight days.
Sources said the incident occurred a fortnight back. Rojalin, daughter of Basant Kumar Sethy, visited the Shankareshwar temple on New Year’s Day with milk and other offerings.
The priest, Narahari Panda, alias Kandura Nana, refused to make the offerings before the deity. Calling them ‘Harijans’, the priest said their ‘bhogs’ could not be offered to the deity and then drove her away from the temple premises, her father Basant alleged in his complaint.
The priest, however, denied the charges stating that Dalits could only bring fruits as offerings for the deity and not milk. Because of this he gave only holy water to the girl. He, however, assured he will abide by the decision of the villagers.
Balikuda IIC Sarbeshwar Behera said a probe is on and action will be taken after the completion of the probe. PNN
