Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) would soon put up signage at all strategic locations of the 12th century shrine to caution devotees for safe keeping of their money and ornaments amid reports of pick pocketing near Srimandir.
A decision to this effect was taken at a recent meeting of Chhatisha Niyog, the apex body of Srimandir servitors.
“Srimandir being a spiritual place, it is indecent to mention ‘Beware of pickpockets’ in the signage. So, we will mention ‘Take care of your belongings’,” said a senior official of SJTA.
Participating in the meeting, a few servitors alleged that the police personnel deployed on the Srimandir premises have been inconveniencing the devotees. “A few policemen usually bring some devotees with them. They identify these devotees as VVIPs. This has been inconveniencing the devotees waiting long for a darshan of the deities,” alleged a servitor.
SP Sarthak Sarangi assured the servitors of initiating appropriate action against the policemen who are indulging in unethical practices at Srimandir. “We’ve been shifting police personnel from one place to other on the shrine premises frequently. However, action will be taken against the officials found guilty,” Sarangi said.
