Four arrested for extorting devotees at Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri: Four persons have been arrested by Singhadwar police for allegedly extorting money from devotees by posing as servitors of the Puri Jagannath Temple.The accused were identified as Pravat Kumar Das, 27, of Balighata, Gyana Ranjan Purohit, 29 of Baselisahi, Sangram Mohanty, 30, of Jagannath Basti, and Anshu Jena, 19, of Lokanath Road.Police said they received credible information that a group of miscreants was targeting devotees — particularly non-Odias — on Bada Danda and Parikrama road. The group allegedly extorted money by posing as sevayats, wearing traditional attire, and claiming association with the temple rituals. Acting on intelligence inputs, Puri SP Prateek Singh formed a special team to track down and apprehend the suspects.The special team found the accused engaging in organised extortion, intimidation and harassment of pilgrims. They offered to guide devotees inside the temple in exchange for money and used threats and abusive language when demands were refused. After a brief chase, all four were apprehended, and police said that none of them had any link to temple services or rituals.Singh said the accused cheated devotees by promising puja arrangements and free darshan while forcibly collecting money without any authorisation or receipt. He said strict action would continue against anyone attempting to deceive pilgrims. Police seized Rs 810 from them during the operation.