A tense situation broke out at the Satapahacha of Srimandir on Sunday as sevayats opposed certain protocol arrangements.
Soon after, allegations emerged that security personnel misbehaved and even pushed the Srimandir Commander, which immediately sparked outrage among members of the Jagannath Temple Police (JTP).
As the confrontation escalated into heated arguments, the JTP protested by closing the Jay-Vijay Gate, thereby suspending darshan for nearly 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, District Collector Dibyajyoti Parida and senior officials of the temple administration rushed to the spot. They intervened promptly, and as a result, the Jay-Vijay Gate reopened, restoring darshan for devotees.
Since the first week of December, Srimandir has witnessed heavy crowds. On Sunday, congestion near the Satapahacha worsened when the independent temple security force reportedly broke one of the seven barricade lines. The Commander objected strongly, and consequently, a scuffle erupted between sevayats and security personnel, further aggravating the situation.
Ultimately, the incident underscored the ongoing friction between temple sevayats and security forces over protocol enforcement. Moreover, it raised serious concerns about crowd management and coordination during peak darshan hours.
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