Puri: Alarming threat messages were found near Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri on Wednesday, raising concerns over the security of the 12th century shrine and creating panic among people in the pilgrim town.
The messages, written in both Odia and English on the walls of the temple’s southern Parikrama Marg outside the temple, threatened a potential terror attack on the shrine.
The writings, most of which were removed by locals, included a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, put the security agencies on high alert. The messages read, “Terrorists will attack and destroy the Jagannath temple.” Several phone numbers were also mentioned with a message to call.
This apart, several decorative lights in the Heritage Corridor site were found damaged. The incident, which occurred in an area under constant surveillance with many CCTV cameras and a continuous police presence, evoked sharp criticism from servitors and devotees.
“The incident has raised serious questions about the vigilance of the police and security infrastructure at the temple. Even though the temple and its periphery are a highly sensitive zone, miscreants showed the audacity and wrote the threatening messages,” said a servitor of the temple.
Stating that some unknown men scaled the temple’s outer wall and gained unauthorised entry recently, devotees said the miscreants are yet to be identified and the fresh incident involving threat messages is quite alarming.
Following the incident, police launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the graffiti. Officers, who suspect the messages may have been written as a prank or act of mischief, are reviewing footage from operational cameras in hopes of identifying the culprits.
“We are taking this matter very seriously. The safety of the temple and devotees is our top priority,” stated a senior police officer.
Steps have been initiated to identify the suspects by scanning CCTV footage and ascertain their motive behind such a brazen act. The incident has not just spread fear among locals but also stressed the immediate need for stepping up surveillance measures at one of the most revered sites in the country.
