Bhubaneswar, December 16: A senior servitor, Bishwanath Khuntia, was critically injured in a clash between two groups of servitors at the Puri Jagannath Temple on Monday.
The altercation reportedly erupted over the distribution of paduka (sacred offerings) near the Beherana Dwara at Mukti Mandap.
According to eyewitness accounts, Khuntia was attacked by a group of fellow servitors while he was distributing paduka to devotees. The Singhadwar police promptly intervened, rescuing the injured servitor and rushing him to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the attackers may be related to one another, leading to speculation that the incident stemmed from a family dispute. Police have detained 5-6 servitors for questioning and are probing the exact cause of the clash.
Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.
