Dhenkanal: The district administration on Tuesday evicted controversial temples- Dhuni Mandir and Batee Mandir- at the seat of Mahima cult (Mahima Gadi) in Joranda in the district.
Acting on the order of the high Court, the district administration bulldozed the two temples in presence of adequate police forces and administrative officials.
The controversy over the twin temples had been continuing since 1945 as the two sections of Mahima saints-Koupinidhari Mahima Samaja and Bakkaladhari Mahima Samaj- had been at loggerhead. A case was also pending in the high court since 1945.
These two temples were occupied by the ‘Koupinidhari Mahima saints’, which the other section had been opposing. The ‘Bakkaladhari’ saints had moved the court over the ownership of the temples.
The High Court had ordered the district administration to evict the controversial places.
The administration deployed five platoons of forces at the eviction site. The two temples were razed by the JCB machine.
