Puri, Odisha: In a chilling development that has sent shockwaves through devotees and security agencies alike, threatening graffiti warning of a terrorist attack was discovered on the sacred walls of Puri’s world-famous Jagannath Temple complex on Wednesday.
The alarming messages, scrawled in bold letters, read: “Terrorists will destroy the temple” and “Kula Budiba” (meaning “your clan will be destroyed”). The writings were spotted at two locations near the temple, sparking immediate fears over the shrine’s safety.
According to officials, the first alert came early in the morning through social media posts showing the graffiti at the Budhi Maa Thakurani temple, a site within the larger Srimandir area. “We verified the reports and confirmed that objectionable remarks about Srimandir had indeed been written on the wall. The matter is under serious investigation,” a senior police officer said.
With CCTV cameras already monitoring the walls where the threats were found, a special investigative team has been deployed to trace the culprits and determine the intent behind the chilling messages.
The incident comes at a time when the iconic Jagannath Temple — a centuries-old symbol of Odisha’s faith and heritage — draws lakhs of devotees from across the globe, especially during the ongoing festive season. Security has been further tightened in and around the temple premises, with additional patrols, surveillance upgrades, and plainclothes personnel deployed.
Authorities have appealed to the public to remain calm but vigilant, even as the probe intensifies into what could be a potential terror threat to one of India’s most revered shrines.
