Bhubaneswar: The person who was detained for his alleged involvement in the ransacking of ‘chullahs’ or clay ovens at the Rosa Ghara (kitchen) of Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri has confessed his crime and claimed that he carried out the act after feeling uneasiness.
Puri SP Dr Kanwar Vishal Singh informed that the suspect has been identified as 30-year-old J Mahapatra of Begunia area in Khordha district. Other details are withheld as of now.
During interrogation, he confessed how he carried out the incident. As per his statement, he claims to be a devotee of Lord Jagannath. On the fateful day, he arrived at the temple and visited several places inside the temple.
After darshan of the Lord, he carried out some cleaning work in the temple. On feeling some uneasiness he went to the Rosa Ghara and ransacked it. Further details in this regard is under investigation.
Singh said that identifying him was challenging as the police only had his CCTV footage. He had no mobile phone so there was no technical input.
Police took the help of around 100 servitors and temple staff but didn’t get any clue. In the second phase of the investigation, separate police teams visited different places in Puri with photos of the suspect in order to gather clues from the public.
Because of the help of servitors and the public, police were able to identify and nab him. Police got the first clue from the railway station. One person, on being approached by a police official, claimed to have seen him at the railway station.
Immediately, the railway mapping of Puri was done and the first 10 railway stations were brought under investigation purview. Multiple teams proceeded to different places and with human intelligence and the help of local police the suspect was located and detained yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, he will be forwarded to court. Further interrogation and investigation will be done to find the exact reason behind the incident. Police will also seek his remand if needed.
