Omkareshwar darshan row triggers kicks and punches:Noida devotees clash with staff over restricted bridge-side temple access

At least 20-25 devotees from Noida and employees of the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple were involved in a heated scuffle on Sunday evening after a dispute broke out over darshan arrangements near the newly built suspension bridge route. The incident took place around 6 pm and created chaos inside the temple premises for some time. Although both sides accused each other of misconduct, no police complaint had been lodged till late evening. Dispute over restricted entry route According to temple sources and eyewitnesses, the devotees were attempting to enter the shrine through the route connected to the new jhula bridge area. However, the path has been temporarily restricted for general devotees because of the widening work underway at Sukhdev Muni Gate. At present, only VIP movement is permitted through this stretch. The devotees, who had arrived from Noida, were reportedly unaware of the revised arrangements. Temple employees stopped them from entering through the restricted route, leading to a verbal argument that quickly escalated. Argument turns into pushing and shoving Eyewitnesses said the confrontation intensified when some devotees allegedly tried to move ahead despite being stopped by the staff. Key developments during the incident included: Soon after, nearly 10 to 12 more employees gathered there, and the altercation turned into a scuffle. Panic briefly spread across the area before local residents and other devotees intervened to calm the situation. Devotees allege threatening behaviour After the incident, several devotees expressed anger over the conduct of temple employees. They alleged that instead of politely explaining the restrictions, some staff members spoke in an intimidating and threatening tone. Visitors also claimed that there was inadequate information regarding the route closure, which added to the confusion among pilgrims arriving from outside Madhya Pradesh. Staff accuse devotees of misconduct Temple employees, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that the devotees attempted to force their way through a restricted entry point. Staff members claimed that some devotees misbehaved and assaulted employees on duty after being denied access. Local residents present during the incident said better communication and clearer signboards could have prevented the confrontation from escalating. Temple Trust promises stricter guidance Temple Trust Manager Trustee Rao Pushpendra Singh said separate entry and exit arrangements have been made because of the limited space inside the sanctum sanctorum and the heavy inflow of devotees. Important points highlighted by the Trust: The Trust management said it remains committed to ensuring smooth darshan arrangements while maintaining discipline and safety inside the temple premises.