Tussle erupts again among devotees at Nartiang temple

SHILLONG: A tussle broke out at the disputed Nartiang Durga temple on Sunday morning as to who should be given the legitimate right to perform Puja.
Sources said that there was some tension between the two groups of devotees over a priest.
Most villagers want the old priest to carry on with performing rituals in the temple while the other group wanted a new priest to be appointed.
The supporters of old priest as well as the new priest went for agitation.
The matter is lingering over one month and High Court’s intervention was also sought into the matter.
Earlier, a fight broke on Saturday where a woman suffered minor injury following push and pull among the supporters. On Sunday morning, again people gathered at the temple for making claims.
It was reported that one group did not allow the other to perform puja following which the tension erupted.
The police had to intervene to maintain law and order.
Police have sought deployment of one platoon of women police to curtail law and order disturbance.
The Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills, Garod L.S.N. Dykes said that there were some issues but not a fight.
The DC also said that the matter is now in the Court even as he added that he has deployed a magistrate to ensure law and order.
The Nartiang Durga temple is 500-year-old and is one of the 51st Shakti Peethas as per Hindu mythology.
The temple is one of the holiest sites for devotees of Hinduism and is also a tourism attraction.
With tension continues at Nartiang, SP Lakador Syiem said police are maintaining law and order to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
He also confirmed that a woman sustained minor injuries in the incident.