Puri, August 28: In yet another alarming breach, a drone was spotted flying over the Jagannath Temple (Srimandir) on Wednesday evening, prompting serious questions about the effectiveness of the temple's security arrangements.
According to eyewitnesses, the drone was seen flying from Market Square toward the temple premises before moving in the direction of Dola Mandap Sahi. Preliminary suspicion suggests the drone may have been operated from near Market Chhak.
This is not an isolated incident. In the past, similar drone flights have been reported over the temple, with one shocking case involving a youth entering the premises wearing camera-fitted glasses. These repeated security violations have triggered widespread concern among local residents, who are now demanding a high-level probe into the recurring lapses.
Despite the Jagannath Temple and its Parikrama area being officially designated as No-Fly Zones due to their high-security status, unauthorized aerial activity continues unabated. While police at Singhadwar Police Station have registered a case against a group of Bengali tourists in connection with the recent incident, the individual responsible for operating the drone remains unidentified and at large. Authorities believe the drone may have been used to capture video footage of the temple premises.
The incident comes even after repeated assurances from officials. Notably, the Law Minister had recently announced plans to deploy an anti-drone system for Srimandir. However, sources confirm that the system is yet to be implemented on the ground.
