Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A clash broke out at the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday afternoon after 40 to 50 Kanwar pilgrims allegedly breached barricades in the Nandi Hall and attempted to enter the sanctum sanctorum without authorisation. Six security personnel were injured in the incident.
The group allegedly tossed donation boxes aside while attempting to gain entry. When security personnel deployed for crowd management tried to stop them, some members of the group became violent and assaulted the staff.
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CCTV FOOTAGE CAPTURES CLASH
CCTV footage from the temple shows devotees attempting to forcibly enter the sanctum sanctorum, moving donation boxes and arguing with security personnel in the Nandi Hall. The footage also captures the scuffle and an assault on a security guard.
Other visuals show the altercation from different angles, along with injured security personnel arriving at a hospital for treatment.
SIX SECURITY PERSONNEL INJURED
Around six security personnel sustained injuries in the altercation. Two employees reportedly suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Security staff told authorities that the group attempted to forcibly enter the sanctum sanctorum and turned violent after they were stopped.
Police and other security personnel subsequently brought the situation under control and removed the troublemakers from the Nandi Hall.
TEMPLE COMMITTEE PLANS STRICT ACTION
The Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee has taken serious note of the incident and said it is identifying those involved. It plans to initiate strict legal action against them in accordance with the law and temple rules.
The committee said breaches of temple security, breaking barricades, damaging temple property, assaulting security personnel and violating established darshan protocols would not be tolerated.
HEAVY DEVOTEE FOOTFALL DURING SAWAN
The incident comes as the Mahakal temple witnesses hundreds of thousands of devotees during the holy month of Sawan.
Temple authorities said the actions of the group disrupted security and management arrangements and posed a risk to the safety of other devotees. The committee reiterated that religious faith cannot be used to justify breaches of security arrangements or established darshan protocols.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
