Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has served notices to three personnel of Jagannath Temple Police (JTP) with regard to security breach at Srimandir April 20.
The JTP personnel have been asked to submit their replies within 15 days, sources said.
Evading security arrangements, a minor boy from Jajpur had climbed atop the temple with the help of the iron scaffolding put up for repair works at the 12th century shrine. The boy reportedly untied a flag from Neelachakra, the metal wheel atop Srimandir, and tied a towel instead on a lightning arrester.
A servitor spotted the boy atop the temple and informed the security personnel. The boy was taken to Singhadwar police station soon after he came down from the temple.
Police handed over the boy to Childline after examining his health at the district headquarters hospital (DHH).
It is learnt that the minor boy told police that a monkey snatched away Rs 5,000 from him while he was roaming on the temple premises. So, he climbed the temple top to recover his money.
The incident exposed loopholes in the security system at Srimandir.
Earlier in this month, two incidents of theft were also reported from the 12th century shrine. Some miscreants had stolen at least Rs 10,000 from a donation box at Ram temple on Srimandir precincts April 1.
Similarly, miscreants had stolen over Rs 1 lakh from an office of Suar and Mahasuar Niyog April 10. Police arrested a minor boy after examining the CCTV footage.
It is worth mentioning here that a report by the intelligence department had confirmed terrorist threat to Srimandir. Taking the issue seriously, a team from the elite National Security Guard (NSG) had inspected security arrangements at the shrine.
The NSG had suggested certain measures to improve security mechanism at Srimandir. However, the authorities concerned are yet to implement the NSG suggestions in letter and spirit, sources said.
