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News Topical, Digital Desk : The news of four youths entering the Puri Jagannath Temple unauthorisedly has exposed a major security lapse. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Wednesday constituted a committee to probe the matter of four men trying to breach the security of the world famous 12th century temple by scaling the outer wall. Puri District Collector Chanchal Rana said the Chief Administrator of the SJTA has constituted a committee headed by the Administrator (Security) to probe the matter.
Why did the youth enter the temple by jumping over the wall?
The decision was taken after a video of four people climbing a garbage dump near the 'Meghnad Pacheri' (outer boundary wall) went viral on social media. Rana admitted that there was a "security lapse". He said a committee would investigate the security lapse. The collector said, "Those who breached the security and scaled the wall are being identified and accountability will be fixed in this incident. Action will also be taken after this." Rana said the district administration has taken the matter seriously and CCTV footage will be examined and those involved in such activities will be identified.
The incident happened on Tuesday. The question is also being raised that when there are four entry gates in the temple, then why did these youths jump over the wall and enter the temple?
What is in the viral video?
In a video going viral on social media, it can be seen that four unidentified people entered the temple unauthorizedly by scaling the outer wall using a large pile of garbage piled near the wall as support. This incident happened on Tuesday, while extensive security arrangements were made during and after the annual Rath Yatra and Neeladri Bije ritual. A sevadar, Vishwanath Khuntia, said that he has seen many people entering the temple premises by climbing the garbage heap. Khuntia said, "The number of people entering the temples unauthorizedly will not be four but hundreds."
Puri temple on the target of terrorists?
Devotees expressed concern over the incident and questioned the utility of AI-equipped cameras to protect the 12th century temple. After the Pahalgam terror attack, intelligence agencies have warned Odisha police that the Puri temple is a target of terrorists, an official said. Former member of the temple management committee and famous sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik said, "It is shocking that despite heavy deployment of security forces during the Rath Yatra, no one saw them entering the premises by scaling the wall. This is a clear case of lapse on the part of security agencies.
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