Balasore: Two families have been reportedly ostracized for allegedly failing to attend a meeting at Gopinathpur village under Jeleswar police limits of Balasore district.
According to reports, family members of Devendra Pradhan and Maheswar Das could not attend a meeting of the village committee due to some reason last year, following which they were ostracized and were not permitted to use any public services.
However, the matter came to light only today after a complaint was filed over the issue. Families of both Devendra Pradhan and Maheswar Das filed written complaint at Jaleswar Police station after four women members of the two families were not permitted to enter the temple of the village to offer puja today.
The women had gone to the village temple to offer prayers on the occasion of the first Monday of the Chaitra month. However, the head of the village asked the priest of the temple not to allow them to offer prayers at the temple.
The women sat outside the temple from 9 AM to 3 PM thinking that they would be allowed to offer prayers after others complete their prayers. However, they were still deprived of entering the temple. Finding no other means, they filed a case. They demanded that the local police and administration should take appropriate action over the issue.
On the other hand, the temple priest, when contacted, could not give any satisfactory answer.
Ms Kalinga