Distribution of non-camera phones to Srimandir servitors faces protest

Puri: Following a ban on smartphones inside the premises of Srimandir after some photos and visuals of the 12th century shrine went viral on social media, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) today started the process of distributing non-camera phones to servitors.

However, senior servitor Damodar Mahasuar urged the servitors not to accept the phones. He issued a call through the help of a poster inside the temple claiming the phones will be a threat to privacy. Instead, he urged the servitors to buy non-camera phones on their own.

"Why will we handover our privacy? We will not accept the mobile phones from the temple administration. We will buy the devices and SIMs from wherever we like," said Damodar.

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The poster further requested that all SJTA authorities, staff, ministers and engineers should not enter the temple premises with smartphones.

On the other hand, while various companies started the registration process to provide mobile phones to the servitors, only three servitors enquired about the phones and registered their names today.