After YouTuber’s visit, Puri servitors’ seek SOP for devotees | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Chhatisa Nijog, a confederation of servitors’ associations of Jagannath temple in Puri, on Wednesday expressed concern over the recent visit of espionage-accused Jyoti Malhotra to the shrine and urged the govt to review security arrangements at the temple.In a letter to Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the Nijog’s head (Nayak) Pattajoshi Janardan Mohapatra wrote: “The current security dynamics in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror strike and recent visit of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who is accused of spying for Pakistan is a cause for concern. Safety of the temple and devotees should be accorded priority.”The Chhatisa Nijog urged the SJTA to issue an SOP for devotees’ conduct. “The arrested YouTuber used a drone to take aerial photos and videos of the temple. This is a sensitive matter, jeopardising the safety protocols of the shrine. Many devotees are visiting the shrine in an intoxicated condition,” Mohapatra’s letter read.SJTA said the Nijog’s proposal will be sent to the govt for examination. “The govt has already stepped up the security at the shrine in the wake of the Pahalgam terror strike. Police are also vigilant to curb drone movements in the temple airspace which is a no-fly zone,” a senior SJTA official said.
