Temple Security Fail: 9 Bangladeshi Nationals Enter Puri Sri Jagannath Temple

In a severe security failure, 9 Bangladeshis managed to enter the Sri Jagannath Temple via the Singhadwara. Surprisingly, they not only broke inside the temple, but they also bought mahaprasad in plastic bags.

Temple attendants became suspicious when 3 Muslim individuals were seen circumambulating the temple this evening. During interrogation, they admitted to arriving from Bangladesh and 5 other Muslims and 1 Hindu came with them to the temple they claimed. Temple servicemen detained these Bangladeshi individuals and handed them over to the police.

After hearing the news, Additional Superintendent of Police Sushil Mishra and Singhadwara Police Station IIC Shwetapadma Dash interrogated the detained individuals. The police seized Mansoor Rehman Khan’s (64) passport and went to the hotel where they were staying to seize the passports of other Bangladeshis.

Despite the strict security precautions at the AC tunnel to approach the temple, these Bangladeshi individuals managed to breach security by entering through the Lion Gate, avoiding the screening system and metal detectors. Today’s incident represents a severe failure in security procedures, despite constant monitoring by numerous police officers from the temple’s entrance to its exit.

This security lapse is not a unique incident. On January 8, an ISKCON devotee, identified as a foreigner, was leaving the temple after witnessing Mahaprabhu. Furthermore, last year on February 24 at 11:00 AM, a Muslim woman and an IRS official entered the Sri Jagannath temple despite clear restrictions against non-Hindus. Despite warnings, the IRS official broke the rules and hurt the feelings of Sanatan Hindus, raising concerns among devotees and temple officials.

Authorities are currently working to strengthen security procedures to prevent such breaches in the future.