Puri: Despite terror threat to the security of twelfth century Jagannath temple here, the state administration and police authorities have taken little care to ensure safety of the temple and the devout.
Two Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives had reportedly visited the pilgrim city in 2013 and spent a few days in local hotels. Security agencies in Delhi were awakened about the IM’s presence in the city after the arrest of an ultra.
Despite intelligence inputs regarding terror threat to Srimandir, police have failed to upgrade security arrangements along the coast. The state government, however, has set up four marine police stations to guard the 150-km coastline of the district, but shortage of human resources has crippled security preparedness.
The state government has deployed armed personnel at the four gates of the temple and directed Singhadwar police to look after law and order inside the shrine. However, frequent clashes and fisticuffs are reported on the temple premises despite police presence.
Singhadwar police station does not have adequate personnel to handle security at the temple, say the sources.
The authorities had procured four scanners at a cost of `1.5crore to install at the four entry points at the shrine in 2015. The district administration, however, abandoned the project after installing a scanner at the southern gate. “The government procured four scanners, fixed one at south gate and the three are lying in the stores due to lack of trained personnel to man them,” said a source in the temple administration.
According to officials, police have installed 73 CCTV cameras on the temple premises to keep tabs on devotees and servitors. However, no step has been taken to examine the footage regularly. “The district police had planned to open three help desks at Srimandir for the benefit of devotees. But the project is yet to be implemented due to resistance from a few influential servitors,” said a temple official.
Intellectuals and social activists have urged the Shree Jagannath temple administration to issue identity cards to servitors to prevent entry of unwanted elements into the shrine. Sources said the temple authorities have issued identity cards to 1135 servitors so far.
The SJTA has banned use of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets inside the temple. No efforts have been made to ensure strict implementation of the ban. “Several devotees, servitors, temple officials and security personnel carry mobile phones into the temple unhindered,” claimed a source.
When contacted, superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi said the administration has taken several steps to boost temple security. “Some servitors are opposed to installation of scanners at the temple gates. We have urged the temple administration to issue identity cards to servitors at the earliest. Steps are being taken to set up police help desks at the temple,” Sarangi said.
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