Bhubaneswar, July 9: The state government today ordered an administrative inquiry into the police lathicharge on sevayats (servitors) in Puri in which around 30 persons were injured.

The police resorted to lathicharge on July 4 to control the swelling crowds trying to climb atop Nandighosh, the chariot of Lord Jagannath.

The commotion disrupted the rituals for several hours and the deities remained on the chariots for more than 36 hours outside the Gundicha Temple. The rituals finally resumed on July 5 following the suspension of four policemen for their alleged highhandedness and the pahandibije (ritual procession of the deities into the Gundicha temple) took place smoothly.

Law secretary Debabrata Das said: “A four-member committee, headed by the additional district magistrate (ADM), Puri, will inquire into the incident.”

The committee would include two representatives from the sevayat community. The team would submit its report by August 31. “Action will be recommended on the basis of the report,” said chief temple administrator Pradipta Mohapatra.

Hundreds of servitors today sat on a dharna in front of the Gundicha temple demanding the immediate arrest of the personnel involved in lathicharge and shifting of Puri collector, SP and the temple’s chief administrator. The servitors also threatened non-cooperation with the temple administration from Sunday evening. After the servitors issued the warning, uncertainty cropped up regarding the bahuda ratha, scheduled to be held on Monday.

After the servitors sat on the dharna, the entire state administration swung into action. The law secretary rushed to Puri to attend a meeting called by the temple administration to resolve the issue.

Chief administrator of the temple and revenue divisional commissioner, Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, DIG (central range), D.S. Kuttey, Puri collector Fakir Charan Satpathy, and superintendent of police, A.N. Sinha attended the meeting, which continued for over two hours.

The state government accepted most of the demands except that of the immediate arrest of police personnel involved in the lathicharge.

“As we have already put four police constables under suspension, there is no reason to arrest them. The role of some sevayats will also be examined,” said a senior officer of the state government.

Police Sepahi and Constable Association president, Padmanabha Behara said: “The association will cooperate with the administration in the smooth conduct of the bahuda yatra. However, the role of the servitors, which led to the lathicharge, should come under the inquiry.”

Senior sevayat Harekrushna Pujapanda expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the meeting.