'Chinese' woman stopped while trying to enter Puri Jagannath Temple

In a major security lapse, a foreign national woman, suspected to be a Chinese, allegedly tried to enter the Puri Jagannath Temple defying the temple rules. The identity of the devotee is yet to be ascertained.

However, no police complaint was registered in this connection.

According to sources, the woman had managed to reach the Gumuta of Puri Srimandir before she was spotted by the police. The cops then brought her out of the temple as she complained of being manhandled.

While her nationality was not known immediately, she is suspected to be a Chinese or Japanese, going by her appearance. However, she appeared to be in her late 60-70s and could be heard speaking in English.

The on-duty police officials politely asked her not to enter the temple again and left her outside the temple barricade.

As per the temple norms, non-Hindus and foreigners are not allowed inside the 12-th century shrine in Puri. Only Hindus can enter the temple to offer prayers to the deities in the sanctum sanctorum. This has been the practice for centuries.