Puri: A pall of shock and grief has descended upon the pilgrim town of Puri following the brutal murder of a senior servitor of the Shree Jagannath Temple, Jagannath Dikhit (83), today, hours after he performed his duties for the auspicious Snana Purnima ritual. The incident, suspected to be a result of a monetary dispute, has raised serious questions about law and order in the heavily secured area during a major temple festival.
Shri Dikhit, a ‘supakara sevyata’ (servitor) of Shree Jagannath Temple, was found dead near his residence in Gudiasahi, specifically at Rabeni Choura, under the Town police limits, around 3:10 PM. Reports indicate he sustained severe head injuries from an assault, leading to heavy blood loss.
Police suspect the murder may have stemmed from a dispute over money Shri Dikhit had lent to a neighbour, identified as Narayan Pattajoshi. CCTV footage purportedly shows a man, believed to be Shri Pattajoshi, throwing Shri Dikhit onto the road. An argument between Shri Dikhit and Shri Pattajoshi is reported to have preceded the fatal attack. Shri Pattajoshi is currently absconding.
The shocking incident occurred despite heightened security arrangements in Puri for the ongoing Snana Purnima, with 70 platoons of police, three commandants, and 450 senior officers deployed across the city.
Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinit Agrawal stated that preliminary investigations suggest the murder may have resulted from a longstanding enmity and confirmed that investigators are reviewing CCTV footage as part of the probe. A case has been registered at the Town Police Station, and Shri Dikhit’s body has been sent for post-mortem.
The daylight murder of a senior servitor in such a sacred and well-guarded environment has left devotees and locals stunned, demanding a swift and thorough investigation to bring the perpetrator to justice. Further updates from the police are awaited as the investigation continues.