Two Detained for Flying Drones Over Jagannath Temple in Puri

Bhubaneswar: Police have detained two persons for allegedly flying drones over the Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri town, a designated no-fly zone.

The action was taken after two drones were spotted hovering over the 12th-century shrine on Wednesday afternoon. Acting swiftly, police deactivated the drones and launched a search operation, leading to the detention of the operators.

The duo, identified as Kalyan Das and Samrat Biswas from Hooghly district of West Bengal, were reportedly operating the drones from the rooftop of a building in Mati Mandap Sahi, located around 500 metres from the temple.

According to reports, temple servitors noticed the drones while tying ceremonial flags atop the shrine and immediately alerted authorities. The incident triggered concern among devotees and local residents, especially as security has been heightened in and around the temple for the ongoing inventory of the Ratna Bhandar (temple treasury).

Officials reiterated that the Jagannath Temple and its surrounding areas have been declared a no-fly zone by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure a secure perimeter around the shrine. Despite the restrictions, instances of unauthorised drone operations have been reported in the past.

During preliminary questioning, the detained individuals reportedly claimed they were unaware of the restrictions on drone usage in the area. Police are continuing their investigation into the matter.