Puri: In a major security breach, a youth was caught inside the sacred premises of the Jagannath Temple (Srimandir) in Puri with a hidden camera. The individual had allegedly recorded photos and videos using a spy camera embedded in his spectacles.
According to reports, the youth cleverly concealed a miniature lens in his eyeglasses, which was actively transmitting visuals to his mobile phone. His suspicious behavior near the Beherana Dwara entrance alerted the security personnel, leading to his immediate detention by the police.
The incident has sparked serious concerns over temple security and the violation of existing regulations that strictly prohibit photography and videography within the shrine.
The accused has been handed over to the Singhadwara Police Station by the temple’s armed security unit for further investigation.
This episode comes amid ongoing debates over the Ratna Bhandar (Temple Treasury) inventory process. Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) stirred controversy by sharing photographs on social media claiming the “revival” of the Ratna Bhandar. The images drew sharp criticism from intellectual circles and heritage conservationists, prompting the ASI to delete the posts late at night.
Ironically, the ASI, a statutory body responsible for preserving India’s monuments, appears to have breached the very laws it is tasked with upholding by posting visuals from the restricted temple zone.
This incident has reignited demands for stricter enforcement of temple protocols and better surveillance to protect the sanctity and secrecy of the revered Srimandir.
