2 fights erupt between Nashik temple security and devotees

On Sunday, even as Nashik’s Trimbakeshwar temple was bustling with scores of devotees, the police registered two separate cases related to fights that erupted among the temple’s security guards and those who had come to pay their respects to the deity. Two persons were injured in the different incidents.

The Trimbakeshwar police registered the first case on a complaint filed by one of the security guards, Yogesh Ramu Game (28), who allegedly got injured in a scuffle with a visiting devotee, Sunilkumar Nemichand Janu (29), an Army man who had travelled from Sikar in Rajasthan with his elderly parents. The Army jawan showed his I-card and asked for the darshan to be speeded up for the sake of his old parents. But the guard refused, which led to a quarrel between the two.

Janu allegedly beat up Game (28) with his helmet and the guard allegedly hit back. The Army man suffered injuries to his hand, while Game suffered injuries on his head. Both people have filed cross complaints in the Trimbakeshwar police station. Sources confirmed that no arrests have been made. The police has registered cases under Indian Penal Code sections 117, 323, 234.

In the other incident, devotee Vinay Hardia from Indore filed a complaint with the police saying the temple’s guards manhandled him while he was standing in the queue.

Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trustee Lalita Shinde said that the quarrel might have occurred over the VIP queue, the charges for which are Rs 200 per head. “While the devotees who pay for the darshan get fast entry, the others have to wait for a long time,” she said.

She added that she has written to the Archaeological Survey of India about the issue. “The ASI has clearly stated the Trimbakeshwar temple comes under it and tickets cannot be charged,” Ms Shinde, who is an ex-municipal president of Trimbakeshwar, said.