Odisha govt to ban non-veg food, liquor near Jagannath temple in Puri: Minister
Bhubaneswar (PTI): The Odisha government will ban the sale of non-vegetarian food and liquor within a 2-km radius of the Jagannath temple in Puri, said Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan.
Speaking to reporters, he said the decision is part of the state government's broader initiative to preserve the sanctity of the holy town.
"A complete ban on the sale of meat and liquor, including in bars, within a 2-km radius of the Jagannath temple will be enforced," said Harichandan, who is also the excise minister.
"There will be no liquor shop or bar on the Grand Road. Besides, sale of meat and non-veg items will also be banned on the Grand Road, which connects Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple," he said.
However, the minister did not state when the ban would come into force.
He said the government was also planning to bring uniformity in the height and facade of all buildings along the Grand Road.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) earlier urged the Housing and Urban Development Department to frame norms for uniform architectural designs for buildings around the temple.
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Two held for 'firing' at BJP leader's house in Bengal
Kolkata (PTI): A day before the counting of votes for the West Bengal assembly elections, two persons were arrested on Sunday for allegedly being involved in a firing incident outside the residence of a BJP leader in North 24 Parganas district, police said.
BJP leader Kundan Singh lodged a police complaint, alleging that a few gunmen fired at his house in the Noapara constituency around Saturday midnight.
Based on the CCTV footage, the two accused were apprehended, a senior officer said.
BJP's Noapara candidate Arjun Singh, in a post on social media, claimed that around 12.05 am, two armed miscreants arrived on a motorcycle at the residence of Kundan Singh, a BJP functionary and secretary of the Barrackpore organisational district, with an "intent to kill him".
According to the BJP leader, the accused are residents of Garulia and are known criminals.
Their names as offenders had been submitted to the Election Commission, he said.
The police officer did not specify whether the two arrested persons were the same individuals named by Arjun Singh.
According to the complaint, one round of firing took place outside Kundan Singh's house, triggering panic in the area.
The BJP candidate also questioned the role of the police, claiming that one of the accused had been detained by the police on the polling day but was later released in the evening.
The Noapara assembly seat went to the polls on April 29.
Several BJP leaders alleged that attempts were being made to create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the counting and weaken the organisation of the opposition parties.
The counting of votes will take place on May 4. Polling for the West Bengal assembly elections was held on April 23 and April 29.
The BJP urged the Election Commission to intervene immediately to ensure peaceful counting.
TMC candidate Somnath Shyam rubbished Arjun Singh’s allegation, claiming that the BJP nominee had orchestrated the firing incident to divert attention from imminent defeat.
“Arjun Singh knows all the gangsters in the Barrackpore belt. Everyone knows about his links with the underworld. Let the police investigate the incident,” Shyam said.
