TV
Police in Puri town are investigating a security breach after a drone was observed flying over restricted zones over the Jagannath temple on Tuesday. The drone, seen hovering near the Neelachakra and along surrounding pathways, remained in the vicinity for around 25 minutes. Officials are yet to ascertain the source of the drone.
Also Read: Unidentified drone spotted hovering over Puri Jagannath Temple, sparks security concerns
This marks the second such incident in recent weeks, following a similar occurrence on January 5. These repeated breaches have sparked worries over the efficacy of security protocols in place at the 12th-century Vaishnavite shrine, which holds significant cultural and religious importance for millions of devotees across India.
“When the drone was flying, it immediately came to the notice of team (police). The team chased the drone. Following the incident, we registered a case. CCTV footages are being verified to identify the person involved and strong action will be taken against the wrongdoer,” Puri SP Vinit Agarwal said to OTV.
Worth mentioning, earlier in another incident, a drone was spotted flying over the restricted airspace around the Jagannath temple in Puri in the early hours of January 5, sparking concerns of a breach of security.
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The drone had approached the Srimandir from Dolamandap Sahi at about 4.10 AM and initially circled around the temple premises before moving along the Meghanada Pacheri, the temple’s outer boundary wall.
The unauthorised drone had even hovered over Jagannath temple’s Dadhinauti and circled above the Neelachakra. Locals also spotted the drone passing over the northern gate area, eventually ascending from Sridanda and flying back into the area from where it initially emerged.
