Four Police Constables Suspended for Alleged Assault on Devotee at Ramgarh's Rajrappa Temple
In a shocking incident at the revered Rajrappa Temple in Ramgarh district, four police constables deployed for crowd control have been suspended for allegedly beating up a devotee on Sunday. The controversy erupted after a video of the altercation went viral on social media platforms on Monday, sparking widespread outrage and calls for accountability.
Incident Details and Temple Priest's Account
According to senior temple priest Ajay Panda, the temple witnessed a significant rush of devotees since early Sunday morning, necessitating police deployment to manage the crowds. The situation escalated when a devotee, accompanied by his family, attempted to enter the temple through the exit gate, leading to a physical confrontation with the police personnel on duty.
Another priest provided further context, explaining, "A devotee from Jamshedpur engaged in a heated argument with constables deployed at the exit gate after a senior citizen was allowed entry on humanitarian grounds. The devotee also wanted to enter through the same gate, which triggered the conflict."
Police Response and Suspension Orders
Ramgarh Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar confirmed that the four Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) constables were suspended following an inquiry conducted by DSP-cum-subdivisional police officer (SDPO) Chandan Kumar Vats. The investigation found the constables guilty of misconduct.
"We issued suspension orders to constables Shyamlal Mahto, Radhe Shyam Kumar, Bahadur Oraon, and Johnson Surin with immediate effect," stated an official police release. SP Kumar, who personally visited the temple site, clarified that while the senior citizen from the devotee's family was permitted to use the exit gate due to age and health considerations, other family members forcibly tried to follow, resulting in the heated argument and subsequent physical altercation with the constables.
Calls for High-Level Probe and Temple Significance
The incident has drawn attention from religious authorities, with Jharkhand State Hindu Darmik Nyas Board member Rakesh Sinha writing to Director General of Police Tadasha Mishra on Monday. In his letter, Sinha requested a comprehensive high-level investigation into the matter and advocated for the suspension of the involved police personnel until the inquiry is fully completed.
Rajrappa Temple, dedicated to Maa Chhinnamastika, is a major pilgrimage site that attracts thousands of devotees daily from various states across India. The temple's popularity often leads to large crowds, especially during peak hours and festivals, highlighting the critical need for disciplined and respectful crowd management practices by security personnel.
This suspension underscores ongoing concerns about police conduct in sensitive religious settings and emphasizes the importance of maintaining decorum while ensuring public safety during high-traffic events at revered spiritual destinations.
