Jagannath Temple's 83-year-old servitor killed after argument with neighbour
The temple servitor, identified by the police as Jagannath Dikshit, who worked as a Mahasuara of the temple. He was found with severe injuries to his head near his house in Gudiasahi, a little after 3pm, after he returned from the temple.
Police said they are scrutinising the CCTV footage showing Narayan Pattajoshi, a neighbour of Dikshit, allegedly throwing him on the road. People in the locality said an argument had taken place between Dikshit and Pattajoshi shortly before the assault. The accused is on the run.
Puri superintendent of police (SP) Vinit Agrawal said the murder appears to be a fallout of personal enmity. 'Preliminary probe suggests that the incident occurred due to past enmity and it will become clearer after further investigation. Efforts are on to apprehend the accused,' Agrawal said.
Diskhit was unmarried and lived alone.
The murder was reported hours after chief minister Mohan Majhi visited the temple town on the occasion of Snana Paurnima when the three deities - Lord Jagannath along with his sibling - Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadhra - are bathed in holy waters.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Time of India
Security up at 3 places in Ganjam after man crushed under chariot wheels
1 2 Berhampur: A day after a 32-year-old man was allegedly crushed to death under the wheels of a chariot at Sikula in Ganjam district, security has been tightened in places where Rath Yatra was held on Saturday. Chariots are pulled by devotees in Digapahandi, Dharakote and Surangi, a day after Puri. Hundreds of people from nearby villages pulled the chariot in Digapahandi and Dharakote, while several people from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and tribals thronged Surangi in Patrapur block to participate in the festival. Siba Behera of Sikula died after the chariot allegedly ran over him on Friday. He was rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries late evening, police said. "We are investigating the incident," said Deepak Mishra, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Purushottampur. "Following the accident, we have asked police officers to keep strict vigil on chariot pulling in their areas," said SP (Berhampur) Saravana Vivek M. He said adequate forces were also deployed in Surangi and Digapahandi to ensure incident-free Rath Yatra. "Ever since the Jagannath Temple was built in Surangi, located near the Andhra Pradesh border, by the then king in the 18th century, the pulling of chariot was done a day after Puri Rath Yatra," said Anchal Pradhan, an elderly resident. Similar tradition continues in Dharakote and Digapahandi. "Bahuda Yatra will also be observed in these places a day after the traditional return car festival. It's our tradition since the temple was established," said Kuresh Patra, an advocate in Digapahandi. According to legends, everyone went to participate in the Rath Yatra in nearby places, including Jarada and Chikiti, leaving behind hardly any devotee to pull chariots in Digapahandi, Dharakote and Surangi. This propmpted the kings to postpone the pulling of chariots for a day. Rath Yatra was celebrated in Jarada on Friday, where Lord Jagannath is worshipped as Lord Parthasarathi.
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- New Indian Express
83-year-old servitor murdered in heavily secured Puri
BHUBANESWAR: In a shocking incident, an 83-year-old servitor was allegedly murdered in broad daylight in Puri when he was returning home from the Shree Jagannath Temple after completing rituals entrusted to him at the shrine on Wednesday. The entire pilgrim town was under thick blanket of security cover for Deva Snana Purnima rituals of the holy Trinity when the incident took place. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had visited the town earlier in the day. The deceased, Jagannath Dikshit (83) was a kothabhoga supakar (temple cook). He was returning after performing the seva in the 12th century shrine when he was allegedly attacked by Narayan Pattajoshi in Gudia Sahi area within Town police station limits at about 2 pm. Police sources said, an argument ensued between the duo following which the 49-year-old Pattajoshi reportedly smashed Dikshit's head against a wall leading to fatal injuries. The deceased even attempted to wipe away the blood stains from the wall before fleeing, said sources.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Jagannath Temple's 83-year-old servitor killed after argument with neighbour
Bhubaneswar: An 83-year-old servitor of Jagannath Temple was found dead just outside his house in the temple town of Puri on Wednesday afternoon, police said. The temple servitor, identified by the police as Jagannath Dikshit, who worked as a Mahasuara of the temple. He was found with severe injuries to his head near his house in Gudiasahi, a little after 3pm, after he returned from the temple. Police said they are scrutinising the CCTV footage showing Narayan Pattajoshi, a neighbour of Dikshit, allegedly throwing him on the road. People in the locality said an argument had taken place between Dikshit and Pattajoshi shortly before the assault. The accused is on the run. Puri superintendent of police (SP) Vinit Agrawal said the murder appears to be a fallout of personal enmity. 'Preliminary probe suggests that the incident occurred due to past enmity and it will become clearer after further investigation. Efforts are on to apprehend the accused,' Agrawal said. Diskhit was unmarried and lived alone. The murder was reported hours after chief minister Mohan Majhi visited the temple town on the occasion of Snana Paurnima when the three deities - Lord Jagannath along with his sibling - Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadhra - are bathed in holy waters.
