Puri, Oct 15: A servitor of the Sri Jagannath temple named Kashinath Khuntia, who was declared absconding, has been arrested by the Singhadwara police today for his alleged involvement in the disturbance during the Niladri Bije rituals of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on July 17.
As per reports, Khuntia, was detained by the Singhadwara police on Friday night following which he was arrested today.
It may be noted that Khuntia was granted with interim protection till October 26 by the High Court in connection with the incident of manhandling with Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal during Niladri Bije rituals. However, he has been arrested for his alleged misbehavior with reporters and delay in the conduct of Niladri Bije rituals.
Notably, some servitors had manhandled with media persons and Puri collector, Arvind Agarwal during the Niladri Bije ritual on July 17. The collector was abused by the servitors for refusing them to allow the devotees to climb up the Taladhwaja chariot. The rituals and pahandi of Lord Sudarshan got delayed after some devotees were given the permission to climb up the chariots by the servitors despite of the ban being put upon by High Court and Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). Reporters who reached the spot to find out the reason of delay in the rituals were misbehaved by the servitors.
