JOWAI: Trouble over the new priest at Nartiang Durga temple continued with a group of women protesting against the new recruit on Wednesday.
The women from Nartiang village blocked the gate to bar Swappon Bhattacharjee, the new priest, from entering the temple.
Bhattacharjee, appointed by the Dolloi Elaka Nartiang with the help of a priest at Rama Krishna Mission, joined on May 16. The decision drove a wedge between the local devotees, a section of whom were supporting Oni Muskut, a descendant of the priest family.
After the death of two priests, Molloi Deshmuk and Uttam Deshmuk, in 2017 and March this year, the Dolloi decided to appoint a new priest.
Muskut is the son of Molloi and Uttam’s eldest brother, who was born from a Pnar lady.
A petition was also filed in the Meghalaya High Court that ordered villagers and devotees to resolve the matter among themselves within a month failing which the court would order a religious scholar to take the decision. The deadline ends on October 14.
West Jaintia Hills SP Lakador Syiem said police and the district administration “are trying their best to bring the situation under control and enough forces have been deployed in the temple to avoid any untoward incidents”.
The SP also appealed to the residents to resolve the matter amicably.
