Puri, March 25: Police have detained two individuals for allegedly flying drones over the Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri.

Authorities acted after two drones were spotted hovering above the 12th-century shrine on Wednesday afternoon. The suspects reportedly operated the devices from the rooftop of a building in Mati Mandap Sahi, located about 500 metres from the temple.

According to reports, temple servitors noticed the drones while hoisting new flags atop the shrine and immediately alerted the police. Officers then deactivated the drones and launched a search operation, leading to the detention of the operators.

The incident has raised concerns among devotees and local residents, especially as security has been heightened in and around the temple due to ongoing procedures related to the Ratna Bhandar (temple treasury).

It is important to note that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has designated the Jagannath Temple and its surrounding areas as a strict no-fly zone to ensure security.