Police record Odissi dancer's statement in abuse case

A three member police team from the Odisha temple town of Puri who included a woman officer visited the residence of eminent Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi here on Tuesday. The team recorded her statement on the recent controversial incident during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in which she was allegedly ill-treated and beaten up by a couple of servitors atop a chariot of the Puri shrine.

The team also questioned her on the incident which has already triggered strong resentment in different circles, particularly among the artists in the country.

M K Senapati, the police officer who led the team refused to divulge much to the media on her statement. However, the Italian dancer maintained that she narrated to the police team what had actually happened with her atop Nandighosa, the chariot of Lord Jagannath, the principal presiding deity of the Puri temple.

“I have told them in detail the actual facts”, Citaristi, a Padmashree awardee told reporters at her residence near the historic Lingaraja temple here. Meanwhile, Daitapati Nijog, one of the associations of Puri temple priests, on Tuesday called for an amicable solution of the issue through discussions between both parties.

“What has happened is certainly unfortunate. The incident should be condemned by one and all. However, an attempt should be made for an amicable settlement to end the controversy through discussions between the parties,” said the President of the Daitpati Nijog, Rama Krishna Das Mohapatra.

The Nijog has convened a meeting of the association members in Puri on Wednesday to discuss the matter, where the issue of permitting non-Hindus and foreigners to climb the three chariots during the Rath Yatra festival is expected to come up.