COVID-19: Section 144 imposed at 2 Odisha temples for Pana Sankranti

Jagatsinghpur: In order to thwart mass gathering on the occasion of Pana Sankranti amidst the coronavirus lockdown, Jagatsingpur Police has imposed prohibitory orders  under Section 144 at two temples in the district.

The two places are Maa Sarala Peetha and Balikuda Bhagavati Temple.

Every year on the eve of Pana Sankranti also known as Maha Vishuva Sankranti, people in large numbers  throng the temples to witness annual Jhamu Jatra. As the entire state is under lockdown following the COVID-19 outbreak, the district police has put restriction on holding of the Jatra and imposed Section 144 at the two temples.

To ensure that no one violates the regulations, Tirtol Tehsildar Shujata Patra, Tirtol Police Station IIC Kailash Chandra Mishra and temple administration officer Surya Ranjan Parija reached the temple at around 3 am today for an inspection.

This apart, two platoons of police force have been deployed in the area to check public gathering by the locals.