Condemning the misbehaviour towards the District Magistrate-cum-Collector of Puri by a section of servitors during the final ritual of the annual Rath Yatra on July 17, Odisha IAS Association today hoped the accused will be given exemplary punishment.
The IAS body, which held an emergency meeting at Panth Nivas here, unanimously condemned the public humiliation of Puri collector Aravind Agarwal who had objected to a senior servitor taking his daughter on to the chariots by defying an Orissa High Court order.
"We are happy that Agarwal performed his duty by raising objections to the senior servitors who broke the law. He handled the case with maturity and allowed the Lord's rituals to be conducted. We hope the culprits will be booked as per the law," a senior IAS officer said after the meeting.
Agarwal, who apprised the Association about the incident where angry servitors abused and threatened him, said "I am personally satisfied over the steps so far taken by the police. I hope this incident will not be repeated anywhere in the state."
The Puri Collector has filed two FIRs naming at least six servitors who abused him and also created disturbances in the ceremonial procession of Lord Sudarshan.
Meanwhile, Puri SP, Sarthak Sarangi, said "We have formed four teams - two in Bhubaneswar and two in Puri - to arrest the servitors who are on the run. As many as 40 servitors are involved in different incidents."
"We will issue warrants against the servitors if they do not surrender within a specific time. Necessary steps will be taken to attach their properties if they don't appear," Sarangi added.
Earlier, the police had arrested six servitors on charge of attacking journalists.
Government officials from across Puri district also held a meeting today to express their solidarity towards District Collector Agarwal.
