Puri: At least 50 people including 20 policemen and six media persons were injured as violence broke out here Wednesday during a 12-hour bandh called by a socio-cultural organisation protesting introduction of a queue system for devotees visiting Srimandir, the police said.
The dawn-to-dusk shutdown in the seaside town called by Sri Jagannath Sena turned violent as a mob barged into the 12th century shrine, uprooted barricades erected on ‘Baisi Pahacha’ and near Singhadwara and ransacked the office of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), they said.
However, all rituals of Lord Jagannath and His siblings were performed as per schedule, Srimandir sources said.
The protesters ransacked a police outpost and an information centre near the Singhadwara as well as the town police station, besides burning tyres and indulging in stone pelting, they said. The mob damaged all traffic posts on the Grand Road.
While around 20 police personnel were injured in stone pelting, many structures suffered extensive damage in the mob attack, prompting the police to charge batons, lob teargas shells and fire rubber bullets to control the situation, a senior police official said.
Security personnel led by Inspector General of Police (central range) conducted a flag march from Srimandir’s Lions Gate to Market Square to restore law and order.
Soon after the queue system was introduced in the temple Monday on an experimental basis, Sri Jagannath Sena had given a call for Puri bandh to oppose the move.
The agitation turned violent after the police picked up Sri Jagannath Sena convener Priyadarshan Patnaik and held him under preventive detention.
Asserting that the stir would be further intensified, Patnaik said the manner in which the new system was introduced hurt the sentiments of a large number of devotees.
Angry over his detention, activists of Jagannath Sena and locals held a demonstration demanding immediate release of Patnaik. They also blocked the Grand Road by burning tyres at a number of places.
The agitators allegedly pelted stones at the residence of the superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi and damaged some flowerpots at the residence of local MLA and revenue minister Maheswar Mohanty, sources said.
District Collector Jyoti Prakash Das and the SP sustained minor injuries when the mob pelted stones and hurled glass bottles at the duo on the Grand Road.
Normal life was crippled in the Holy City as shops and business establishments as well as educational institutions remained shut. Traffic came to a halt with protesters holding picketing and blockade at many places, police said.
Adequate police force was deployed in order to restore normalcy in the city where the situation remained tense, the police said.
The Collector said quick steps were taken to bring the situation under control and prevent a further flare-up. “Many police personnel sustained injuries due to attack from some antisocial elements during the agitation. The mob tried to paralyse the administration. We condemn the violence,” he added.
An official said the queue system was introduced on an experimental basis and a review would be done as locals and servitors opposed it.
Director General of Police RP Sharma reviewed the situation. He held discussions with several senior police officers at the police headquarters in Cuttack.
“The agitators have damaged public properties. We would initiate a probe and take action against the culprits. Soon Puri Collector and SP would hold discussions with the protestors to bring normalcy to the Holy City,” Sharma said.
PNN & Agencies
