Bhubaneswar, Feb 15: Tension gripped the premises of the Lingaraj Temple today after a scuffle broke out between two groups of servitors. The altercation reportedly began over disagreements related to the entry of family members of a servitor for darshan.

Eyewitnesses said the situation turned chaotic as members of both groups clashed, disrupting the sanctity of the temple.

Police personnel deployed at the site intervened to restore order, but reports suggest that they too became entangled in the scuffle with some servitors amid the heated exchange.

The flashpoint of the dispute appeared to be the entry of family members of a servitor for darshan, which triggered objections from another group. The disagreement soon spiraled into a confrontation, drawing the attention of devotees and temple authorities.

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Authorities have assured that steps are being taken to prevent further disturbances and maintain discipline within the temple premises. The incident has raised concerns about internal disputes among servitors and their impact on the smooth conduct of rituals at one of Odisha’s most revered temples.

Police officials confirmed that the situation was brought under control and normalcy has since been restored.