Puri, October 6, 2018: Puri police on Saturday arrested 12 more persons, taking the total number of arrests to 23 so far in connection with the arson and violence near Jagannath temple here during Wednesday’s bandh.
Earlier on Thursday, police had arrested 11 persons in this connection. Today, Singhadwar police arrested 12 more persons, including some Dhulia Gumasta of the temple.
It is learnt that the accused have been identified from CCTV and media footages and arrested.
Director General of Police (DGP) Dr RP Sharma during his visit to the pilgrim city on Thursday had directed speedy identification of the accused from CCTV and media footage and their arrest as early as possible.
According to sources, 16 cases have been registered with Singhadwar and Town police stations and 62 accused persons identified so far.
Notably, introduction of queue darshan system at Jagannath Temple triggered violence in the hallowed town on Wednesday as hundreds of people, mostly activists of Jagannath Sena, a social outfit, went on the rampage on the Grand Road, facing the 12th century shrine and demanded immediate withdrawal of the reform.
The angry mob ransacked the office of Shree Jagannath temple administration, vandalised the residence of Puri MLA and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Maheswar Mohanty and reportedly pelted stones at the house of Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi.
The violence broke out during a bandh called by Jagannath Sena, the Puri-based social outfit, in protest against the queue darshan system in the shrine.
The system was one of the suggestions by the Supreme Court to ensure discipline and hassle-free darshan in the temple. The queue system was introduced in an experimental basis on October 1.
