Murder of Senior Servitor Shocks Puri Temple Town
Tragic Incident in Puri
Bhubaneswar, June 12: A disturbing event has unfolded in Puri, where an 80-year-old senior servitor of the Jagannath Temple, Jagannath Dixit, was reportedly murdered under unclear circumstances.
This incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the Gudia Sahi area, falling under the jurisdiction of the Puri Town Police.
The deceased, a well-respected servitor from Mahasuar Sahi, had visited the Jagannath Temple earlier that day to fulfill his daily religious obligations.
Bhimsen Dixit, the nephew of the victim, shared, “My uncle went to the temple to perform his daily service. After he returned home, this tragic event took place. We are still in the dark about who is responsible and the motive behind this.”
According to police reports, the body was found near Rabeni Square in Gudia Sahi.
CCTV footage captured an individual leaving the body close to the residence of Naran Patjoshi, a local resident. It is believed that Jagannath Dixit had visited Patjoshi to request repayment of a debt, which may have led to a confrontation and ultimately his murder.
The police have since recovered the body and initiated an investigation.
Evidence of blood on the victim's body further indicates a potential homicide.
Puri SP Vinit Agrawal stated, “Initial investigations suggest that personal animosity may have led to the murder. We have filed a case and are intensifying our efforts to apprehend the suspect, with more information expected to emerge as the inquiry progresses.”
The police apprehended the suspect, Patjoshi, at his in-laws' residence in Sasan Damodarpur under Sadar Police jurisdiction on Wednesday evening.
He is currently being interrogated to uncover the true motive behind the murder.
This incident has caused significant alarm within the servitor community in Puri, and law enforcement is under pressure to ensure swift justice.
Moreover, this occurrence, which took place amid heavy police presence for the Snana Yatra at the Jagannath Temple, raises concerns regarding the police's claims about maintaining law and order in the area.