Puri: A man from Karnataka was taken into custody by police on Thursday for allegedly flying a drone over the restricted zone around Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri.
Despite strict restrictions on drone operations over and around the 12th century shrine, the 25-year-old man was found flouting the rule. He was identified as Abhyuday Sinha, a resident of Karnataka.
Sources said Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh received an information around 5 pm that a drone was being operated in the prohibited airspace above the temple. Acting on the SP’s direction, special teams from Swatantra Shree Mandir Surakshya Vahini (SSMSV) and Singhadwar Police Station were immediately mobilised.
Two police teams tracked the drone’s movement and followed its trajectory. During further verification, the drone’s location was identified near Panda Gali in front of the temple’s North Gate.
Police raided the area and apprehended the operator. The drone was seized from his possession.
As the Jagannath temple area has been declared a “No Fly Zone”, drone operations are completely prohibited in and around the temple premises owing to security concerns. Police officials said strict surveillance is being maintained to prevent any such unauthorised aerial activity.
A case has been registered at Singhadwar Police Station, and further investigation is underway, police said.
