Puri: At a time when the Supreme Court of India has issued several guidelines for smooth darshan of deities at Srimandir, an elderly devotee was assaulted and his daughter was manhandled by a worker (colloquially known as Bojhia) at Anand Bazar on the temple premises Friday.
Singhadwar police arrested a person in connection with the assault after registering a case in this regard. However, the main accused absconded soon after the incident.
According to police, Susama Biswal of Banpur in Khurda district and her family partook Mahaprasad at Anand Bazar after paying obeisance to the presiding deities in the afternoon.
Biswal entered into an argument with Sumant Barik, a worker at a stall selling Mahaprasad, over some issues. Enraged, Barik manahadled Biswal, police said.
Barik also hit Biswal’s father Brajabandhu with a clay pot when the latter tried to intervene. Biswal’s father sustained injuries on his head.
Soon, Biswal lodged a complaint in this regard at a branch office of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and sought action against the worker. However, SJTA officials could not trace Barik, sources said.
Subsequently, Biswal lodged a complaint with Singhadwar police and alleged that Bikash Mahapatra, a salesman at the stall, had facilitated Barik to flee the spot.
“We have registered a case and arrested the salesman. Steps are being taken to arrest the prime accused,” said Singhadwar polie in-charge Gokul Ranjan Das.
PNN