Puri: Members of socio-cultural outfit Shree Jagannath Sena today staged violent protests while observing bandh in Puri over eight-point charter of demands including scrapping of newly implemented queue system at Puri Srimandir.According to sources, the protesters blocked road by burning tyres on Bada Danda and pelted stones at the residence of Puri Superintendent of Police Sarthak Sarangi.
The protesters also barged into Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty and damaged properties.
Earlier today, police took convener of the outfit Priyadarshan Patnaik into preventive custody.
“We are ready to die for Lord Jagannath. The administration can only say why I have been arrested. The protest will continue in the future as well,” Patnaik said.
The outfit had informed that protest will be staged today over the issues of Brahma Parivartan fiasco, missing Ratna Bhandar keys, and manhandling of journalists.
“Resentment out of this undemocratic process will spread across the State and outside. Devotees are not being allowed to enter Srimandir through the three gates. It is almost hooliganism by the authority,” senior servitor Binayak Das Mohapatra said.
A rally was taken out yesterday ahead of the bandh and protesters burnt a poster with pictures of V K Pandian, Pradipta Mohapatra and Suresh Mohapatra.
On the other hand, Daitapati servitors have warned that thousands of devotees will forcibly enter the temple through the three entrances.
According to reports, devotees tried to enter the temple forcibly through Singha Dwar to witness Mangalarati yesterday.
Devotees from distant places are unhappy with the new system citing that it delays their entry into the 12th century shrine. They even term the closure of the three entrances of the temple as a ‘step against the tradition’.
Prasanta Patnaik