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Temple Threat: Man Arrested for AI-Generated Deception
22 Jan
Summary
- Man arrested for creating fake social media profile of a woman.
- Allegedly threatened to bomb Jagannath temple and lawmaker.
- AI used to generate disrespectful images of the deity.
In Puri, Odisha, a 30-year-old man named Pratik Mishra was apprehended late Wednesday evening for allegedly impersonating a woman on social media. He purportedly created a fake profile on January 11, using it to post threats of bombing the sacred Jagannath temple and targeting local lawmaker Subhasish Khuntia, following a personal rejection.
Mishra confessed that his motive was to frame the woman who declined his romantic advances. Following the online threat, security around the Jagannath temple was heightened, with thorough checks for devotees. The lawmaker also reported receiving a ransom demand and pressure to resign.
Separately, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration filed a complaint regarding an AI-generated video depicting a disrespectful portrayal of Lord Jagannath. This marked the first instance of AI being used to create offensive media targeting the deity, deeply upsetting worshippers and leading to a resolution to update legal statutes against such actions.
