SHILLONG: More police personnel have been deployed in and around the sensitive Nartiang Durga Puja temple to ensure peaceful observance of the Puja.
On Wednesday, the West Jaintia Hills police enforced the directive of the Meghalaya High Court by allowing the permanent priest, Oni Maskut Deshmukh, to perform the rituals at the Nartiang Durga temple.
West Jaintia Hills SP Lakador Syiem said they were following the directive of the court to allow the permanent priest to perform the rituals.
The court on Tuesday prevented the priest brought by the headman of Nartiang to perform puja against the wishes of the majority of the residents.
According to the SP, they have deployed two additional platoons of police personnel along with eight officers to keep a firm grip on the temple situation.
“We will review the situation and take a call on withdrawal of the police force from the temple after the festival,” the SP said.
Speaking on the condition of the police personnel who were injured during the late night violence on Monday, Syiem said most of the police personnel, including Addl. SP P. Syiem have been released from the hospital.
Syiem said two police personnel who sustained grievous injuries, have been shifted to Shillong and Guwahati, respectively, for further treatment.
On the other hand, Deputy Commissioner Garod L.S.N. Dykes said the situation on Wednesday was peaceful after the court order.
He, however, said the district administration is taking precautions to ensure that the situation continues to remain normal in the temple.
