Aerial view of Lingaraj temple

Bhubaneswar, April 30: Security threat looms large over holy shrines of the twin cities, with stories of terror groups conspiring attacks and suspicious videos going viral on the net.

Puri resident and social activist Hektar Mishra had lodged a complaint with Singhdwar police station on April 20 after a video clip of aerial view of the Jagannath temple was circulated on social networking websites. Mishra had complained that such clips would help the terrorist organisations to prepare a blueprint to carry out an attack on the temple and the city as well. However, the police are yet to ascertain the source of the video clip.

A similar video clip of Lingaraj temple has gone viral on various social networking sites. This has raised caused concern among temple administration and devotees. The devotees and servitors now want the temple’s security to be beefed up.

According to Archaeological Survey of India, aerial photography a monument protected under its wings is prohibited. The present security arrangements for the Lingaraj temple include a police outpost, a doorframe metal detector in front of the Lion’s gate and the eastern entrance to the temple with a few policemen managing the security. At present, four constables manage the outpost, which seems inadequate for the temple’s security. Police is also not guarding the two other entrance and exit points on the north and south.

These two gates are opened during special occasions such as Shivratri. The temple does not have a single watchtower to keep a vigil on the movement of visitors. Unlike the Jagannath temple, the police personnel do not use handheld metal detectors to frisk the baggage of servitors and devotees, raising chances of security breach inside the temple.

However, the temple administration is managing the security with 14 closed circuit television cameras installed on the premises. The cameras are capable of storing 15 days’ data. To add teeth to the security apparatus, the temple administration is also planning to introduce identity cards for the servitors.

“In November last year, we had written to the endowment commissioner to appoint an officer in the rank of assistant commissioner of police as the security in charge of the temple,” said chief executive officer of the temple A.K. Patnaik. He also said that the staff strength of the outpost should be increased. The servitors, too, alleged that the temple was vulnerable to any security threat due to inadequacy of security measures. “Without firearms and only with lathis, the police seem to be least prepared for any security threat. The temple is centuries old, but no one is bothered about its security. The temple administration and police as well should take immediate steps to enhance its security enhancement,” said Sudam Panda, a servitor.

The Jagannath temple administration recently initiated a number of measures in view of possible terrorist threat to the temple. These measures included introduction of identity cards for the servitors and stricter security check at its gates. Police commissioner R.P. Sharma said that the police would soon convene a meeting to beef up the security of the Lingaraj temple. Sources said that a review meeting will be held on May 2.