A serious allegation has surfaced regarding the alleged assault of a minor by police personnel near the Bahara Katha area of the Puri Srimandir on Friday night, raising concerns over crowd control practices at the revered pilgrimage site. The incident reportedly occurred amid a heavy influx of devotees.
The injured child was immediately shifted to Puri Sadar Hospital in a temple ambulance. Doctors stated that the child’s condition is under close observation and he may be referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack if advanced treatment is required. A CT scan was conducted following medical advice.
According to the complaint, the child had visited the Srimandir along with his parents from Bhadrak district. While navigating through the crowd and allegedly following the prescribed queue system, a person in police uniform reportedly assaulted the minor. The family further claimed that they were assaulted again when they protested, after which the child lost consciousness.
The matter was reported to the Puri Superintendent of Police. Senior officers, including the City DSP and officials from Singhadwara and Kumbharapada police stations, have reviewed CCTV footage and initiated a preliminary inquiry. No official police statement has been released so far, and authorities have stated that further action will be taken based on the investigation’s findings.
