Bhubaneswar: A 35-year-old man has been booked for allegedly flying a drone without permission over Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, triggering security concerns at the protected heritage site.
The incident occurred on Sunday, when temple sevayats spotted the drone hovering over the high-security temple complex for more than half an hour. They alerted Lingaraj Police, who tracked the drone’s path and apprehended the operator, who was manoeuvring the device from a motorcycle at a distance.
The accused has been identified as Sambit Kumar Kar, a resident of Dumuduma Housing Board Colony in Bhubaneswar.
A case was registered at Lingaraj police station under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 223(a), 292, and 299, along with provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
During the investigation, police seized the drone and the motorcycle. A notice has been served on him under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Further probe is underway, including analysis of the drone’s camera footage to determine what was recorded.
The Lingaraj Temple, an 11th-century shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of Odisha’s most revered sites, is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The area above the temple is designated as a no-fly zone due to its religious and heritage significance, with strict regulations prohibiting unauthorised drone operations.
