Pradip Kumar Sahoo at a hospital in Puri. Picture by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 29: Tourists have become a soft target for goons in Puri.

Pradeep Kumar Sahu, an employee of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), was kidnapped and then assaulted by goons on Friday evening, sources said.

Sahu injured one of his palms when the goons slashed him with a sword. After beating him up, the goons dumped him on the roadside near Koilaada Square on Puri-Satapada road.

Sahu, who is undergoing treatment at Puri District Hospital, sustained grievous injuries on his head. Police said Sahu had come to Bhubaneswar on an official tour. Later, he decided to visit Puri to have a darshan of Lord Jagannath. Sahu, who works as an electrician in the company, went to the beach and spent few hours there. At 8pm, he took an autorickshaw to the railway station. Three passengers were already sitting in the rickshaw when he boarded it. After they crossed the beach, the driver took the auto to a secluded spot and he, along with the three passengers, snatched away Sahu’s gold chain, rings and cash worth Rs 22,000. Then they beat him up and slashed his palm with a sword.

A few local people found Sahu in a critical condition. Sahu told the police that the gang members included a woman. However, police are yet to arrest anyone.

On January 27, three employees of a travel agency attacked two tourists, including a woman from Bengal, when her family refused to hire vehicles from them. The woman, identified as Lili Saha, fractured her right hand in the attack. Two persons were arrested in connection with the crime. In another incident on January 24, goons attacked a tourist from Kazakistan. In this case also, two people were arrested.

Temple committee

Even as tourists have become a soft target for goons in Puri, the authorities today reconstituted the Sri Jagannath Temple Management Committee under Puri king Dibya Singh Deb to ensure that temple rituals were conducted smoothly.

Earlier, there have been several incidents of rituals being stopped by sevayats (priests) following disputes among the temple management. There have been bloody fisticuffs inside the sanctum sanctorum among the priests. The committee, which was reconstituted after eight months, would constitute five sevayats and others.

The 17-member committee, of which the king is the permanent president, looks after the day-to-day affairs of the temple. The revenue divisional commissioner of the area acts as its working president. The district collector, SP, representatives of temple administration and a few prominent citizens of Puri are among the members.