SJTA suspends Dasmohapatra for one month over Digha temple row
Dasmohapatra was placed under suspension after SJTA issued him two show cause notices over his statement on the use of surplus sacred Nabakalebara wood of Srimandir in crafting idols of the Digha temple and his participation in the inauguration ceremony despite being aware that it is being called Jagannath Dham.
The suspension order was passed against Dasmohapatra as he has denigrated the image of Srimandir, said a press release issued by SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee. The senior servitor has been prohibited from rendering religious service and entering the 12th century shrine during the suspension period.
The order also stated that during the period, Dasmohapatra should not try to intimidate members of his Nijog and other persons connected with the incident to disrupt the rituals of Srimandir. If the directions are violated, the suspension period will increase, and stringent action will be taken against him.
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Hans India
5 days ago
- Hans India
Four scale garbage heap to enter Puri temple premises
Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Wednesday constituted a committee to inquire into the alleged breach of security at the 12th-century shrine here after four unknown persons were found scaling the outer perimeter wall of the temple. The SJTA Chief Administrator has formed a committee, headed by the administrator (security), to inquire into the matter, Puri District Collector Chanchal Rana told reporters after a video of four persons scaling the garbage heap near 'Meghnada Pacheri' (outer boundary wall) went viral in social media. 'Admitting that there was a lapse', Rana said the committee will probe into the alleged breach of security. 'Trespassers are being identified and accountability will be fixed in this incident. Subsequent action will also be taken,' the Collector said. Stating that the district administration has taken the matter 'seriously', the Collector said the CCTV footage will be verified and the persons involved in such activities will be identified. It was seen in the video that four unidentified men gained unauthorised access into the shrine by scaling the outer perimeter wall, using a large pile of garbage accumulated near the wall as support. The incident took place on Tuesday despite elaborate security arrangements in place during and after the annual Rath Yatra and Niladri Bije rituals. Biswanath Khuntia, a servitor, said he has witnessed many people scaling the garbage heap and entering the temple premises. 'The number of people illegally entering the temples is not four, it could be hundreds,' Khuntia said. The devotees expressed concern over the incident and raised questions on the utility of AI-enabled cameras for the security of the 12th-century shrine, which is under the scanner of mischief mongers. In the post-Pahalgam terror attack, the intelligence agencies had warned the Odisha Police regarding the Puri temple remaining on the radar of terrorist outfits, an official said. Former member of the Temple Managing Committee and renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik said: 'It is surprising that despite the huge deployment of security forces during Rath Yatra, no one spotted them climbing the wall and entering the premises. This is a clear case of lapse on the part of the security agencies.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
4 men climb into Puri temple by scaling outer wall
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Days after Puri Jagannath temple was brought under an unprecedented security cover following Indo-Pak tensions, a serious security breach came to the fore on Tuesday evening when four unidentified men gained unauthorised access into the shrine by scaling the outer perimeter wall (Meghanada Prachira), by climbing on a large pile of garbage that had accumulated near the wall. According to police, the identities and intentions of the trespassers are still unclear. Footage that emerged on Wednesday showed these men scaling the shrine's outer compound wall. The temple has four entrances that are guarded by armed police. This breach occurred during the Niladri Bije festival, despite substantial police presence, raising concerns about security vigilance. "Through CCTV footage we are trying to identify who they are and what they did inside the temple, though they appeared to be regular devotees," said collector (Puri) Chanchal Rana. "We admit the lapses and apologise for it. Serious efforts are being made to prevent recurrence of such incidents. We urge devotees to refrain from such adventures, jeopardising the security protocols of the temple," Rana told reporters. He explained that traffic restrictions during the Rath Yatra, which concluded on Tuesday, prevented the removal of accumulated waste near the temple. SP (Puri) Pinak Mishra said investigation was in progress to identify the trespassers. "We are examining the CCTV footage to identify them," said Mishra. A case was registered at Singhadwar police station following a complaint lodged by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). SJTA's chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee indicated that a committee, including administrator (development), officer on special duty (security) and a senior supervisor has been formed to probe the matter. Temple servitors and security experts called for a thorough security review at the shrine, where preventive measures had been recently strengthened due to Indo-Pakistan tensions. Armed personnel were deployed at the shrine, which is considered a potential high-risk target in the country. The National Security Guard (NSG) conducted a detailed security assessment at the Jagannath Temple last month, focusing on counter-terrorism readiness. The govt accelerated the formation of the new Swatantra Shree Mandir Surakshya Vahini (SSMSV), a dedicated force, at the temple. Additionally, Odisha police established an anti-terrorist squad (ATS) near the temple, featuring urban warfare-trained commandos from their special tactical group. They also positioned Rakshak, an armoured vehicle with bullet-proof capabilities, outside the temple. "Despite these massive security arrangements, police personnel's lack of vigilance enabled four men to enter the shrine unauthorised," said retired DGP, Bipin Bihari Mishra. Biswanath Khuntia, a servitor said, "The number of the trespassers could be more. Even though they seemed like regular devotees, such an act exposed the vigilance of police, whose number was in hundreds during Rath Yatra."
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Four persons climb garbage mound to enter Puri Jagannath Temple illegally, probe ordered
BHUBANESWAR: Despite elaborate security arrangements being made at the Shree Jagannath Temple for Bahuda Yatra, four youngsters managed to enter the shrine by scaling its Meghanada Pacheri or the outer boundary wall, unauthorisedly. They climbed a large mound of garbage adjoining the Meghanada Pacheri (southern wall) to gain access to the 12th-century shrine. The incident, a video of which has been going viral, reportedly took place on July 8. Following the security lapse, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has constituted a probe committee led by the SJTA development administrator.
