A posting on social media has raised concerns about the security personnel’s behaviour at the Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple in Tuljapur, Dharashiv district, Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel are accused of pushing people in the holy temple’s courtyard, the post says, but there is a post in which the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) has been accused of pushing people entering and pushing people inside and outside the temple in the temple’s sanctum.
The video of security guards pushing people inside the temple’s inner hall and around the temple’s sanctuary area is going viral online and in the temple’s sanctum area where the temple is located and so there are mixed reactions from people with their sentiments and concerns among those in this pilgrimage site.
Dharashiv - A controversy has erupted over the alleged misbehaviour of Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel at the Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple in Tuljapur, Dharashiv district. Videos purportedly showing security guards roughly pushing devotees inside the temple sanctum have gone viral on social media, triggering strong reactions from devotees.
— NextMinute News (@nextminutenews7) October 27, 2026
However, the circumstances of the video, when it was recorded and whether the individuals shown are MSF members, are not clear. The specific allegation has not been independently established and the temple administration and relevant authorities must have a say in the matter.
MSF Personnel Deployed Ahead of Festive Season
Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple is one of the most visited pilgrimage centres in Maharashtra and usually many devotees attend every year. When heavy footfall is prevalent, transportation of visitors as well as security staff in the temple is very important.
116 Maharashtra Security Force personnel were deployed at the temple ahead of the festive season to strengthen security measures and control the crowd. The unit will include six officers, one inspector and four police sub inspectors. They are required to work with local police and the temple administration, provide security and meet their guidelines for religious visits and access to restricted areas.
As part of the preparation for the expected increase in visitors, a route march was also conducted in Tuljapur. The deployment was meant to enhance security in the temple during a busy period.
The recent social media post has exposed how security personnel interact with devotees. While the footage does not indicate whether actions in the video broke official rules or whether the people involved were doing what they were supposed to do to meet the requirements, it is not hard to see that.
Separate Incident Involving Temple Security Guard
The accusation comes amid other stories of confrontations between security personnel at the temple during the Navratri period.
On October 13, a separate incident occurred between temple trust security guard Sanjay Nanaware and three to four police personnel, with Nanaware refusing entry through a brass gate to the temple interior, which has entry restrictions. The dispute quickly turned into a physical fight and left the security guard injured, police sources told us.
The incident raised questions on access control and how temple control personnel were performing in enforcing restrictions.
But that confrontation involved allegations against police personnel and a temple trust security guard. This is in stark contrast to the NextMinute News post that claimed MSF personnel pushed devotees. There is currently no evidence connecting the two incidents and they should not be considered one incident.
The separate episode added to concerns about crowd management and the safety of visitors at a time of heavy pilgrimage traffic. The temple trust, local police and security personnel need to have clear lines of control to avoid disputes over access turning into physical confrontations.
Questions Over Crowd Management and Accountability
The allegations have brought into focus the responsibility of security personnel at a crowded religious site. But the security at big pilgrimage centres must cater for access restrictions, large numbers of visitors and the safety of devotees from overcrowding and physical confrontations.
Any misconduct by personnel on duty needs to be weighed properly. To determine what took place in the circulating footage, personnel would need to be identified and the circumstances of the alleged pushing to be clear. CCTV footage, witness accounts and an official account could help establish the sequence.
As of writing this, the allegation in the NextMinute News post has not been independently verified. We do not know if there has been any official inquiry or disciplinary action to be launched in relation to the footage. We had no response about the incident.
The matter remains an allegation needing clarification. Further information from the temple trust, Maharashtra Security Force or Dharashiv district administration would be required to determine what happened, and, if anything, to take action.
As long as the situation is verified, assertions about the identities of the persons involved and the reasons behind their alleged actions and possible disciplinary consequences should not be considered as well-founded facts.
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