Recently, security personnel in the guise of terrorists entered the Jagannath temple at Puri with a fake bomb, without being challenged by the guards on duty. The security lapse at the famous temple which draws people from all over India has come under severe flak, following which the State Government has started taking measures to increase security not just in Puri but also at the Sun temple at Konark.

Apprehending terrorist attacks on important religious places of worship in the country and in the wake of the Akshardham Mandir incident, the Union Home Ministry’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been issuing guidelines and advisories from time to time to the state governments, including the state of Odisha for taking appropriate security measures.

Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, Revenue Divisional Commissioner and chief administrator, Jagannath Temple has been reported that there was a threat perception and accordingly long-term action plan for temple security had been initiated, including installation of surveillance system, funded by Nalco , at the Puri temple, Gundicha temple and a part of Grand Road.