Jajpur (Orissa), January 26: At least 18 persons were injured, six of them seriously, when a clash erupted today between supporters of two groups of priests inside the premises of Ananta Gopal temple in Orissa’s Jajpur district.
The temple also known as “Chhatiabata” at Chhatia turned into a battle field when supporters of “Mahanta” (head-priest) Pradyumna Dash and his two younger brothers fought over hereditary rights to be the temple’s chief priest.
Both parties used knives, iron rods, swords and batons during the attack and temple property over Rs one lakh was damaged, Inspector of Chhatia police station P K Majhi said.
The injured, including head-priest, his younger brothers Prafulla Dash and Santosh Dash, were rushed to SCB Medical College and a hospital in Cuttack while 12 others were being treated at Community Health Centre at Barchana, he said.
–Agencies