Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Saturday suspended a servitor for allegedly assaulting a senior temple servitor and supervisor following an altercation over the sale of a sweet dish.
SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee took stringent action against Pantibadu servitor Chandan Samatara for his alleged involvement in the assault of supervisor Baxi Ramachandra Pratihari.
According to sources, Pratihari recently cracked down on unauthorized vendors selling Rabidi in Anand Bazaar and evicted the non-servitors from the area. In retaliation, the disgruntled Pantibadu servitor, accompanied by an accomplice, brutally assaulted Pratihari near the temple’s Western Gate. He was rescued in a critical condition and rushed to District Headquarters Hospital in Puri.
Concerned over the incident, the chief administrator of SJTA suspended Pantibadu servitor and banned him from entering the temple premises and its surroundings.
“Any sort of disruptive incidents will not be tolerated within the temple premises. Further action will be taken against anyone found involved in the incident”, stated Padhee.
