The Commissionerate Police today arrested two individuals for tattooing an image of Lord Jagannath on the thigh of a foreign woman in Bhubaneswar, following a complaint by the Hindu Sena organisation.
The accused have been identified as Rocky Ranjan Bisoi (33), owner of ‘Rocky Tattoos’ in Saheed Nagar, and Aswini Kumar Pradhan (25). The Saheed Nagar police registered a case under Section 299 of the BNS, citing deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings. The tattoo, initially posted on the tattoo shop’s Instagram account, sparked sharp criticism from devotees and religious organisations, leading to protests.
During the investigation, Rocky, the owner of Rocky Tattoos, was apprehended. Upon interrogation, he confessed that his artist, Ashwini Kumar Pradhan, had created the tattoo of Lord Jagannath on the thigh of the foreign woman as per her request. Both Rocky Ranjan Bisoi and the foreign woman have issued public apologies via social media, expressing regret for the incident.
In his apology, Rocky stated, “A foreign woman approached an artist at my tattoo shop requesting a tattoo of Lord Jagannath on her thigh. Our staff advised her against it and suggested placing it on her hand instead. However, she insisted on getting it on her thigh. I sincerely apologise for this incident. I was not present at the shop at that time.”
The foreign woman also expressed her remorse, saying, “I never intended to be disrespectful. I am a devotee of Lord Jagannath. I made a mistake, and I deeply regret it. Once the tattooed area heals, I will cover it up. Please forgive me.”
The tattoo will be either covered up or removed after about 25 days, as immediate removal could cause infection. The woman has assured that she will return to the shop for the procedure once the area heals.
This incident underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity and respect towards religious symbols, especially in a diverse country like India.
