Puri, Jan 05: A servitor of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, has been suspended for assaulting a fellow servitor last month.
The suspension order was issued by Arabinda Padhee, the chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), against Mukha Pakhal servitor Biswanath Khuntia, said sources.
Khuntia was found guilty of abusing and attacking another servitor, Madan Mohan Khuntia, sources added.
Biswanath Khuntia has been barred from performing any services at the temple for the next three months. Prior to the suspension, the SJTA had issued show-cause notices to both parties involved in the incident.
The altercation occurred on December 16 near the Beherana Dwara of the 12th-century shrine, over the distribution of 'Avakash Paduka' to devotees. What began as a verbal dispute escalated into a physical confrontation, with Madan Mohan Khuntia sustaining bleeding injuries to his nose.
Following the incident, Padhee instructed both servitors to submit a satisfactory explanation through the temple commander within seven days, explaining why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.
