Overview

• The Odisha government is finalizing the deployment of an anti-drone system to detect, track, and neutralize unauthorized drones around the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
• The anti-drone initiative is a response to repeated violations of the temple’s aerial filming ban by vloggers, including a 2024 incident involving YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who is under investigation for suspected espionage.
• Funding for the anti-drone technology will be provided by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, underscoring the temple's commitment to bolstering security.
• Security measures have already been heightened, with 240 police officers deployed and recruitment for the 1,083-member Swatantra Shree Mandir Surakshya Vahini (SSMSV) being expedited.
• The temple’s security upgrades follow concerns over potential threats to the 12th-century shrine, a major pilgrimage site, and its surrounding area.