British Tourist Enters to Create Chaos in Jagannath Temple

The Jagannath Temple, a historical shrine, which stands in Puri, the holy land of Jagannatha for over 9 centuries, marks one of the most religiously important sites of worship for the followers of the Hindu religion in India. So the news of a British national allegedly infiltrating the shrine’s boundaries and further indulging in brawls with devotees and the police, is bound to raise many eyebrows and even more questions.

This foreign tourist, who identifies as Thomas Craig Sheldon from Wandsworth, South London had reportedly trespassed within the shrine on Saturday by partially covering his face and hiding identity. Eyewitnesses allegedly claimed to have seen and heard him abusing other devotees. As the police stationed within the premises spotted him and got hold of his identity, he was confronted and denied any further access and was asked to leave the premises immediately, stating that entry into the shrine is not allowed to non-hindus.

“Sheldon turned a deaf ear to the Police’s orders and further indulged in a verbal and physical brawl with the officials, where he resisted and even attacked officers on duty”, said Dama Mahapatra, a servitor who claims to bear witness to the entire incident. After this, the British tourist was immediately detained and a formal investigation was launched by the Odisha police, which further revealed that the 30 year old British national was previously detained at the sea beach police station for reportedly creating nuisance near the sea shore and the Swargadwar crematorium on the same day.

While people think of this as a seemingly odd and one-off case , this has actually been the 3rd case of illegal entry within the 12th century shrine this year. Whether the motive was mighty devotion, mischief or something else, is still unclear. But it has definitely managed to put the shrine authorities as well as the Odisha police on their toes.