Jagannath Temple official, son-in-law arrested in Odisha

Member of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee and Secretary of Daitapati Nijog, Premananda Das Mohapatra, and his son-in-law were today arrested for allegedly assaulting a doctor and grievously injuring him, a police officer said.
The servitor and his son-in-law, Nabakrushna Prusty were booked for various offences including attempt to murder for the alleged attack on the duty doctor at the district headquarter hospital here, said Inspector In-Charge of Kumbharpada police station, K C Sethi.
The incident took place last night when Das Mohapatra had gone to the hospital with and others for the treatment of his grandson who was unwell, he said.

Dr Khirod Chandra Pal advised the servitor to get a ticket from the hospital counter, but Das Mohapatra reacted furiously and asked for the phone number of the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Sethi said quoting the complaint lodged by the doctor.
When the doctor refused to give the CDMO's phone number, Das Mohapatra started abusing using vulgar language and physically assaulted him causing grievous injuries, he said.
Soon after the incident the doctor lodged a complaint at Kumbharapada police station. Later, Das Mohapatra also lodged a similar complaint against the doctor, the officer said.

The doctor, who has sustained serious injuries including a severe haematoma near the eye, has been referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital, the IIC said.

The doctors and other staff of the district hospital had stopped work in protest against the attack and normalcy was restored after the administration intervened and assured them that action would be taken, police said.
Police said Das Mohapatra faces several criminal cases and had been arrested in the past for allegedly attacking an electoral official, police said, adding he was also arrested recently for gambling and subsequently released on bail.
The arrest of Das Mohapatra ahead of the annual Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath has sparked apprehension about various rituals performed by the servitors as he is the secretary of the Daitapati Nijog.