BHUBANESWAR: Introduction of queue darshan system at
Puri Jagannath Temple triggered violence in the hallowed town on Wednesday as hundreds of people, mostly activists of Jagannath Sena, a social outfit, went on the rampage on the Grand Road, facing the 12th century shrine and demanded immediate withdrawal of the reform. The mob also ransacked the office of Shree Jagannath temple administration, vandalised the residence of Puri MLA and revenue minister
Maheswar Mohanty and reportedly pelted stones at the house of Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi.
The violence broke out during a bandh called by Jagannath Sena, the social outfit, in protest against the queue darshan system in the shrine.
Puri district collector Jyoti Prakash Dash said the administration is alert to the situation. "Our immediate focus is to maintain law and order. The SP is also on the spot to placate the mob. The queue darshan system in temple was introduced on Monday on experimental basis as per the suggestion of the Supreme Court. To ensure hassle-free darshan, we regulated the crowd through queues," Dash said.
The queue darshan system has since not gone down well with several servitors and Jagannath Sena. The Jagannath Sena observed bandh in Puri on Wednesday protesting the introduction of queue system for devotees. Tension ran high after the police detained Jagannath Sena's convener Priyadarshan Pattnaik on Wednesday morning. His supporters ran riot, dismantled barricades outside the temple and promoted devotees to jump the queue system. The vandals also stormed into the Jagannath temple office and terrorised employees.
Puri MLA and revenue minister Maheswar Mohanty's house was ransacked by the mob even though he had on Tuesday protested the queue system and demanded special privilege for residents of Puri. Mohanty said there should not be any regulation on the entry locals into the shrine. Mohanty said there is no harm to introduce queue for those, who come from outside to have darshan occasionally.
“I feel that the locals of Puri faced hardship due to the queue darshan system. Many locals visit the temple early morning and in evening every day. Daily visitors should not be asked to stand in queue. The queue system is acceptable for others, who come from outside occasionally to the temple. But the system is not acceptable for locals. I hope the administration looks into the convenience of the local devotees and makes special arrangements,” Mohanty told media persons. While the temple administration has made it mandatory for all devotees to enter in queue through Lion’s Gate and come out through the other three gates, Mohanty said locals should be allowed to enter and exit through all the four gates.
The minister parried to a question as to why devotees should be segregated as per the territory. Mohanty’s remark did not go down well with many devotees, who stood in queue to enter the temple on Tuesday. “We came from Nayagarh district with same devotion for the deities. If we are made to wait in the queue, why cannot others. There should not be any difference between devotees of Puri and other places,” said Pragyan Rautray, a devotee from Nayagarh.
The violence broke out during a bandh called by Jagannath Sena.
