Dispute Breaks Out Between Priest, Police Officer During Rath Yatra In Kanpur, Cop Suspended

The priest, Mahant Jitendra Das, threatened self-immolation over police restrictions on sound systems. Devotees protested, leading to a tense situation.

A police officer in Kanpur was suspended for allegedly misbehaving with a priest during the Jagannath Rath Yatra.

Source : PTI

A police officer in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur was suspended after a dispute broke out between him and a priest during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in the city. 

The station officer of the Badshahi Naka police station was placed under suspension for allegedly misbehaving with Panki Hanuman Temple Mahant Jitendra Das, according to the officials, reported PTI. 

The priest reportedly threatened to set himself on fire if police did not allow the Jagannath Rath Yatra to proceed without removing additional sound systems.

According to Das, before the starting of the Rath Yatra, police officials arrived and said that only two speakers should be used in the band, reported The Times of India. 

The priest further alleged that the police misbehaved with the organisers when they opposed them. 

According to local residents, the police's instruction to take off additional sound system angered the devotees and they sat on a dharna at Nayaganj. 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Satyajeet Gupta said that Station Officer (Badshahi Naka) Rajiv Kumar has been put under suspension for allegedly misbehaving with Das and also abusing him.

"We have made an appeal to the mahant, devotees and others to take out the Jagannath Rath Yatra without removing the additional sound systems as it is already delayed and the removal of the additional sound systems will lead to a further delay. A request has also been made to maintain peace and not pay attention to rumours," the DCP said.

To maintain law and order during the procession, additional police forces have been deployed from neighbouring police stations along the route. 

"The situation is under control but we are still alert and keeping a close surveillance on the situation. Rumour-mongers will be dealt with sternly," another official said. 

Speaking to reporters, Das said that the SO, along with police personnel from Nayaganj, arrived at the spot and asked them to carry only two speakers with the procession, when they were preparing to take out the Jagannath Rath Yatra at 1 pm.

"When we opposed this, saying no senior official had issued any such instruction, the police personnel misbehaved with us," he said.