Pandharpur: Two families from Nashik, who were visiting the Vitthal temple in Pandharpur, found themselves receiving more than just spiritual succour on Friday, when they were beaten up by the security guards at the temple. However, this is not the first such instance of high-handedness of the security personnel, devotees have alleged. The government must send such errant staff packing, worshippers have demanded.
As the Sonawane and Yevlekar families were praying at the temple, a child from one of the families fell and Priyanka Yevlekar bent to pick him up. This is when the security personnel intervened and reportedly, indulged in pushing and shoving her.
Other family members were incensed at this display of uncalled for response. When Sunny Sonawane asked the security guards to explain their behaviour, he too was beaten up. His mother and sister too were pushed around roughly and led to the breaking of his mother’s mangalsutra. The entire incident has been captured on CCTV cameras in the temple premises. While Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has sanctioned a pay hike for the security personnel, who gave them the right to assault devotees, asked a Warkari, Ramkrishna Veer. He also asked who would initiate action against errant personnel in such cases.
