Temple turns Haven of miscreants !

By Dhrutikam Mohanty

Irresponsible behaviour of few sevayats & the loopholes in administrative arrangements has put a question mark in the sanctification of the famous shrine of Sri Jagannath in Puri, Orissa . The 'Koili Baikuntha' piligrim of this temple is considered to be the Kunjaban of Lord Krishna & Radha, but it's quite shocking to know that, such a heavenly place has turned into a haven of drug peddlers . In spite of strict safety rules & security arrangements by the temple administration, a miscreant named Shyam Pallai has successfully managed to deceive all and run his business of heroine for months. On 19th March, police caught him red-handed with 10 packets of heroine from the temple premises. In 1996, Palai was arrested by the town police station under NGPS and sent to jail for the same offence. Last year he was released from the jail and started drug peddling in and around Jagannath temple, as per the sources.

The ongoing deviation has affected the sanctity of the temple. This drugs peddling was not only taking place in Koili Baikuntha but in different places within the premises of the temple. This incident reveals that many people inside the temple campus have been regularly using drugs. According to a senior police official, ‘some persons, who are in the responsibility of serving the Lord & attending the devotees are addicted to such intoxicating drugs . Many among them are not only misbehaving the tourists and devotees but charges of plundering are also against them.’

A number of detestable incidents had occurred in the past which reveals how the shrine premises has turned into a center of criminal activities. On 20th March 08, just a day after the ceasure of drugs, police found a revolver from a person named B. Panda from the west gate of temple . The matter was suppressed by police since it would bring shame to the sevayat community. Besides this a dancer who came from Chennai along with her mother to visit Jagannath temple, few months ago, was forcefully asked for money and was misbehaved and a lady teacher, who came from Bhubaneswar, along with her daughter had to face the same situation there. In 2005 many arms along with bottles of liquor & condemnable things were ceased from the kitchen of the shrine. The incident of a minor girl lifted away from the stairs of the temple and sexually assaulted has still remained fresh in the minds of people. Few years back, a sevayat named S. Senapati molested a lady tourist from Bengal near Garuda Khumba. Such incidents has disgraced the fame of shrine & has raised a feeling of fear in the heart of devotees & tourist. Hare Krishna Mahasuar, Secretary of Sri Jagannath Sevayat Sammilani reacts, in cases of misbehavior to devotees and other criminal activities the temple administration should take strong actions against the person concerned. For the misconduct of few the whole sevayat community has to pay the price.

All though such unlawful activities, deviations & incidents of misconduct are rising day by day, yet both the police as well the temple administration is yet to take any immediate step. Instead of taking strict actions against the accused, they are pleaded for mercy. Such situation has compelled to think whether the sevayats are under the mercy of Lord of the temple or 'Lord Jaganath' is under the mercy of sevayats !