Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the police have failed to prevent devotees and servitors from carrying mobile phones into the 12th century shrine despite imposing a ban on the use of phones on the temple precincts.
Some servitors are openly using mobile phones on the temple premises while a few devotees usually take the gadgets clandestinely into the shrine, sources said.
Srimandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath is in the hit list of some terrorist outfits. The Intelligence department has asked the Puri district police to beef up security in and around the shrine. Besides, a team from the elite National Security Guard (NSG) has been inspecting security arrangement at Srimandir for last several years.
Taking the security issue into consideration, the SJTA has banned the use of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets on Srimandir premises. The shrine authorities have a few signage at the Lions’ Gate of the temple to make devotees aware of the mobile ban. Similarly, a few metal detectors have been installed at the temple gate to prevent people from carrying unwanted objects inside the temple.
Moreover, the temple administration has decided to seize the cell phones of the violators and impose a penalty of Rs 1,000 on each of them. As per the guidelines, the SJTA chief administrator, Puri district collector, superintendent of police and Srimandir public relations officer are allowed to use mobile phones in the shrine.
However, the ban order has failed to deter people from carrying mobiles phones into the shrine. Very recently, a photo of an Odia actress partaking of Mahaprasad along with her kin at Anand Bazar on the temple precincts went viral on social media.
Earlier, photos of some sensitive places of Srimandir including the sanctum sanctorum were also uploaded on the social media. Even, photo of a police official doing some puja on the Baishi Pahacha (22 steps) went viral on social media last year.
“Some devotees are using mobile phones to take selfies at Srimandir. A few servitors are openly taking phones into the temple. The SJTA and the police have failed to check the use of mobile phones inside the shrine,” said a social activist.
When contacted Puri superintendent of police Uma Shankar Das said he would raise the issue at the meeting of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee. “We will urge the temple panel to issue a clear-cut guideline on the issue,” he added.