Selfie With Prez Chopper: Another ‘Security Lapse’ During Droupadi Murmu’s Odisha Visit

Bhubaneswar: After the 9-minute power outage fiasco at Odisha’s Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, another alleged security breach during President Droupadi Murmu’s 3-day visit to Odisha has come to the fore.

A pharmacist, Jaswant Behera, who was on helipad duty when Murmu visited the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district on Friday, took selfies with the chopper of the First Citizen of India and posted them on social media, sources said.

After landing at Chheligodhuli helipad near Jashipur, she had visited the national park by road. The park was out of bounds for tourists for two days – May 4 and May 5 – in view of her visit.

Behera reportedly deleted the post after questions were raised over the President’s security.

While security experts had earlier questioned as to why Murmu was not whisked away to a safer place during the power outage at the university, BJP alleged that it was an attempt to sabotage President’s programme. 

The snag took place barely a few minutes into President’s speech, but she continued as the mike system at the venue was unaffected. It lasted from 11.56 am to 12.05 pm.

Following the incident, the university authorities suspended electrician Jayant Tripathy. A three-member team, comprising the registrar, PG council chairman and development officer, has been tasked to investigate lapses and fix responsibility.