Puri to be developed as a World-Class Religious City: CM Majhi
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today announced that Puri will be developed as a world-class religious city. Highlighting Puri’s significance beyond being a religious site, the Chief Minister stated that the government is committed to developing it as a world-class religious city, with its upgrade to a municipal corporation as the first step. Meeting elderly women devotees of Kartik Habishyali at Vrindavati Nivas, Majhi described their devotion as the moral strength of Odisha and a living symbol of Odia culture and identity. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the month of Kartik holds special significance in Odia culture, being associated with self-restraint, compassion, and devotion. He noted that Odia mothers have observed Habish for centuries, reflecting the state’s moral and cultural strength. Majhi also announced that from next year, a dedicated digital registration system will be launched for Habishyali women, providing access to medical and emergency services. The Chief Minister expressed hope that the devotion and prayers of Habishyali mothers will bless Odisha and guide society towards peace and progress. He added that this year, approximately 2,500 Habishyali devotees have been accommodated by the government at five designated locations, with an expenditure of around Rs. 3.30 crore. Urging everyone to follow the teachings of Jagannath Dharma, Majhi paid respects to the Habishyali devotees, took photographs with them, and discussed their convenience and needs. The event was attended by Puri MP Dr. Sambit Patra, Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhuti Prasad Tarai, Puri Sadar MLA Sunil Kumar Mahanti, Brahmagiri MLA Upasana Mahapatra, Satyabadi MLA Om Prakash Mishra, Pipili MLA Ashrit Pattnayak, and District Collector Divyajyoti Parida, among others.
DGCA declares Puri’s Jagannath Dham as Red Zone
The pilgrim town of Puri, home to the sacred Jagannath Dham, has been marked as a Red Zone on the flight map of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). According to the DGCA notification, aircraft are prohibited from flying within 50,000 meters above sea level over Puri, particularly above the Sri Jagannath Temple. The restriction came into effect on September 26, 2025, and will remain valid until September 25, 2028. However, the decision has sparked mixed reactions among devotees, many of whom have demanded the installation of anti-drone systems to prevent drones from flying near the 12th century temple, a nationally protected monument. In recent months, several incidents of drones flying close to the temple have been reported. Police have detained multiple operators, who were later released with warnings after claiming ignorance of the restrictions and stating that they were capturing visuals for social media. Yesterday, another drone operator was detained after his drone was seen flying near the temple and was later released with a warning. Devotees and locals have expressed concerns that unmanned drones could pose security threats to the historic shrine. They have urged authorities to declare the temple and its surroundings a complete no-fly zone and install drone-jamming systems to enhance protection.
Gang rape of college student reported near temple town Puri: police arrest two
A 19-year-old college student was allegedly gang-raped by a group of youths in a casuarina grove near a beach in Odisha’s Puri district, police said Monday. The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening about 20 kilometers from Puri town, has led to the arrest of two suspects, while one more has been detained. Police said additional individuals are believed to be involved and a search operation is underway. According to the complaint, the woman had gone to the beach with a male friend when several local youths allegedly began filming and photographing them on their mobile phones. When the couple objected, the group attacked them, police said. The friend was reportedly beaten and tied up, while the assailants dragged the woman into a nearby casuarina grove about 500 meters away, where she was gang-raped. The woman lodged a complaint at the local police station two days later, on Monday evening. Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh said the survivor initially hesitated to narrate the ordeal because of trauma. “After women police officers spoke to her, she gathered courage and filed a complaint. We immediately arrested two men and detained another. We suspect more people are involved and are investigating further,” Singh told reporters. Another police official said the accused had also attempted to extort money from the couple by threatening to circulate the photographs and videos they had taken. “When the demand was resisted, the situation escalated,” the officer said. The case has drawn comparisons to a similar crime reported in May in Odisha’s Ganjam district, where a college student was allegedly abducted from Gopalpur beach and gang-raped by a group of youths. Puri’s beaches are popular tourist destinations and remain crowded throughout the year, though the latest survivor and her friend are both residents of the district, police said. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of women in coastal areas of the state, with calls for stronger policing of isolated stretches near beaches. Police said they are analyzing digital evidence and continuing raids to apprehend the remaining suspects.
Threat to blow up Puri’s Jagannath temple sparks security concerns
Authorities in the eastern Indian state of Odisha have launched an investigation after a threat to blow up the famed Jagannath temple in Puri was found scrawled on a wall near the shrine, officials and local media said on Tuesday. The message, written in both Odia and English, warned that the centuries-old Hindu temple would be destroyed in a militant attack and included several phone numbers, urging locals to call them. The wall, located close to the high-security temple complex, also showed signs of damage, and several street lights and poles in the area were found broken, local reports said. The incident has raised questions about police vigilance, as the temple and surrounding areas are monitored by CCTV cameras and patrolled regularly by security personnel. “How could such graffiti appear in a high-security zone?” one temple servitor was quoted as saying by local media. The warning comes amid a series of recent incidents that have unsettled some of the temple’s priests and staff, including a disruption during the annual Rath Yatra chariot festival, overcrowding that led to stampede-like situations, and a flag being carried away by an eagle. Police said they were examining CCTV footage and attempting to trace the individuals responsible for the graffiti. “An investigation is under way to identify and apprehend those involved,” a senior officer said. The Jagannath temple, one of Hinduism’s holiest sites, attracts millions of pilgrims and tourists annually, and has been a declared high-security zone for years.
