Police lathicharge on sevayats in Puri. (file picture)

Cuttack, July 16: Orissa Havildar, Constable and Sepoys’ Confederation today demanded an impartial probe into the circumstances leading to police lathicharge on sevayats in Puri. They also threatened to launch a ceasework agitation if their demands are not met by August 31.

Terming the administrative inquiry as totally ‘unconstitutional’, the association has decided not to cooperate in the entire administrative inquiry that has been ordered to probe into the police lathicharge in which 30 persons were injured on July 4.

“In the Indian Constitution, there is no provision to include the complainant and accused in the same inquiry committee. Hence, the committee formed to investigate the matter is completely unconstitutional,” said the confederation’s president, Padmanabh Behera.

Behera pointed out that the four-member team, headed by additional district magistrate of Puri, also included two representatives from the sevayat community, which may ‘affect’ the probe.

On July 4, police had resorted to lathicharge to control a huge crowd that was trying to climb atop Nandighosha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath. Following the incident, hundreds of sevayats had sat on a dharna in front of the Gundicha temple demanding immediate arrest of the police personnel involved in the lathicharge. The sevayats also demanded transfer of Puri collector, SP, and the temple’s chief administrator. Religious rituals were affected and the three deities remained on their respective chariots for nearly 36 hours outside the Gundicha temple. Later, a committee was formed to probe into the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report by August 31.

Condemning the incident as “unfortunate”, the confederation’s office-bearers said it had accepted the “unilateral” decision in a bid to ensure that all the rituals of Lord Jagannath were completed which was the need of the hour. Similarly, lakhs of devotees who had also come to Puri for the rath yatra were also demanding smooth conduct of the entire festival.

Four constables were suspended for the lathicharge incident. However, no action has been taken against the errant sevayats even after so many days of the incident, rued leaders of the confederation.

The “partial” action against the constables has deeply hurt thousands of constables working in the state. Under such circumstances, the chief administrator of the Jagannath temple should give a clarification on what grounds the committee comprising representatives of sevayat community was approved, they said.