Bhubaneswar, Jan. 9: The Jagannath temple administration in Puri will request the state government to conduct a Crime Branch inquiry into the sale of temple land in Jatni area.

Revenue divisional commissioner and chief temple administrator, Puri Jagannath temple, Arvind Padhee said he would propose such an inquiry by the state government.

The issue of encroachment of Jagannath temple land in Jatni came to light yesterday when the commissioner along with district administration conducted an eviction drive in the area. The officials were shocked to find a housing society under construction on the land.

Padhee suspended one Birendra Gochhikar, yesterday, in this connection. Gochhikar was working as head clerk at the temple’s branch office in Jatni. Sources in the district administration said some land mafias and influential persons, including politicians and government officials, have grabbed around 40 acres near Budhapada, Kantia, Maheswar and Niranjanpur villages. Yesterday, the officials carried out an eviction drive on around 270 acres.

An eviction squad had demolished around six houses, which had been erected on the land for the past five years. One stone-crushing unit and a rice mill, which were operating on the land, were also demolished. “The eviction drive will continue till all the lands belonging to Lord Jagannath are free from encroachment,” said Saroj Kumar Samal, sub -collector, Bhubaneswar.

Sources said a number of stone quarries are in operation on lord’s land in Niranjanpur and Kantia villages.