Bhubaneswar: An Italy-born Odissi dancer who has made Odisha her home since 1979 was beaten up by a priest on Sunday in the temple town of Puri after she refused to pay a fee of Rs.1,000, an official said.
The incident occurred when Ileana Citaristi climbed atop a chariot to pay obeisance to Lord Jagannath. A priest allegedly beat her when she refused to cough up the amount he demanded. (IANS)