Police officer suspended for scuffle with temple priest over sound methods throughout Rath Yatra in Kanpur

The station officer of the Badshahi Naka police station was positioned underneath suspension on Friday (June 27, 2025) for allegedly misbehaving with Mahant Jitendra Das, the priest of the Hanuman temple situated within the Panki space of this Uttar Pradesh district, officers mentioned.

The dispute erupted between police and the priest over the set up of extra sound methods for the Jagannath Rath Yatra.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Satyajeet Gupta informed reporters that Station Officer (Badshahi Naka) Rajiv Kumar has been put underneath suspension for allegedly misbehaving with Das and in addition abusing him.

“We’ve got made an attraction to the mahant, devotees and others to take out the Jagannath Rath Yatra with out eradicating the extra sound methods as it’s already delayed and the removing of the extra sound methods will result in an extra delay. A request has additionally been made to keep up peace and never take note of rumours,” the DCP mentioned.

As a precautionary measure, reserved police forces and personnel from neighbouring police stations had been deployed alongside the procession route.

“The scenario is underneath management however we’re nonetheless alert and maintaining an in depth surveillance on the scenario. Hearsay-mongers might be handled sternly,” one other official mentioned.

Police have launched a probe into the incident, Extra DCP Mahesh Kumar mentioned.

The dispute erupted between police and the priest over the set up of extra sound methods for the procession.

Resident offended with police

In keeping with native residents, devotees received offended after police requested the organisers of the procession to take away the extra sound methods, following which they sat on a dharna at Nayaganj.

Das informed reporters that the SO, together with police personnel from Nayaganj, arrived on the spot and requested them to hold solely two audio system with the procession, once they had been getting ready to take out the Jagannath Rath Yatra at 1 pm.

“After we opposed this, saying no senior official had issued any such instruction, the police personnel misbehaved with us,” he mentioned.

Irked by the alleged misbehaviour of the police personnel, supporters of the priest began elevating slogans towards police. Officers tried to pacify the priest and his supporters, however they had been adamant on their demand that the SO needs to be positioned underneath suspension.

Samajwadi Get together (SP) MLA Amitabh Bajpai additionally arrived on the spot together with his supporters and so they recited the “Hanuman Chalisa” there in protest.

Das walked by way of the market with folded arms, following which the shopkeepers pulled down their shutters in his assist.

The priest gave an ultimatum that if no motion was taken towards the erring police personnel by 8 pm, he’ll set himself on fireplace, which prompted prime officers to swing into motion.

The Jagannath Rath Yatra was taken out round 8 pm, after the SO was suspended.