SUBHASH MISHRA
Deoghar, Oct 24: In a startling incident, a monkey entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Baba Baidyanath temple on Thursday late afternoon and injured three people before being chased away. A red-faced monkey bit two Bhandaris (storekeepers) and one sanitation worker during the intrusion.
As the monkey tried to escape, it also injured three more individuals in the eastern part of Mansarovar, causing chaos in the area for a short period.
Concerns Over Security Lapses
Chandrashekhar Khabare, Senior Vice-President of Panda Dharma Rakshani Sabha, blamed the temple’s security system for the incident. He said that while heavy police deployment exists for safety, the personnel were preoccupied with VIP devotees and their relatives, neglecting general security arrangements.
Khabare cited a previous clash among devotees in the worship queue, which even led to an FIR, as evidence that police deployed at the temple have struggled to maintain order.
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Appeal to Chief Minister
The Panda Dharma Rakshani Sabha vice-president urged the Chief Minister, who also chairs the Baba Baidyanath Dham-Basukinath Dham Shrine Board, to take cognizance of the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
He also demanded action against the police personnel on duty during the incident to alert other security staff and reinforce vigilance.
Monkey Activity in the Area
A Deoghar district administration official noted that groups of monkeys from nearby Tapovan and Trikut Pahadi frequently enter the temple premises. However, this is the first reported instance of monkeys biting visitors inside the sanctum sanctorum.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of devotees and highlighted the need for improved monitoring and preventive measures against wildlife intrusion in the temple complex.
