Bhubanswar: The Jagannath Temple administration in Puri on Tuesday decided to install CCTV cameras at Bhitara Katha, the final entry point for devotees.

From this point devotees are allowed to have their darshan of Lord Jagannath and the siblings, which is only 30 feet away.

Niti administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Pradeep Das said: "The cameras will be installed to monitor movement and activities of servitors and devotees inside the temple."

But the cameras will not record the rituals of the deities. "We will switch off the cameras during the rituals of the Lord. The sole purpose to install the cameras is to monitor the movements of devotees and the servitors. We will also keep a watch on the interactions between devotees and the servitors," said an official.

Sources said the administration was forced to consider installing two CCTVs after one devotee from Maharashtra had alleged that two servitors had assaulted him on May 2.

The devotee had alleged that his gold pendent was snatched away over payment of dakshina.

Later Puri police and the temple administration had launched an investigation into the issue and identified the two servitors responsible for the attack. The temple administration had then suspended servitors - Somnath Mekap and Madan Khuntia - for an indefinite period. Sources said this was not the first incident where servitors had misbehaved with the devotees

Devotees have thanked the administration for deciding to to install CCTV cameras.

"We visit religious places across the country. There is discipline everywhere. The same practice should be adhered here. Once the CCTVs are installed, incidents of such misbehaviour with the devotees will come down," said defence official Bikash Kanungo.

Leading servitor Binayak Das Mohapatra, too, welcomed the decision of the government to install CCTVs.

"It will help to identify the culprits. There is need to maintain discipline at the temple," said Das Mohapatra.