Russian tourist detained for taking pictures of Jagannath temple in Odisha’s pilgrim town Puri

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, Dec 5:

A Russian tourist was detained by the police in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri for taking photographs by climbing atop a watchtower of the Shree Jagannath Temple today.

The Russian tourist, who has been identified as Ivanov Sergei, has been detained at the office of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).

A sevayat, who saw the Russian tourist atop the watchtower clicking photographs, informed the police, who accosted him and handed him over to the SJTA.

“I never knew that taking photographs in prohibited. There is no signage. I had no knowledge of it,” said Sergei haltingly in half broken English.

Sudhakar Mishra, an assistant sub-inspector of the temple police station, said; “A sevayat told me that he (the Russian) is taking photographs. I immediately asked him to get down from the tower which he did. I asked him to hand over his equipment, which he refused to do. I have handed him over at the SJTA office.”