The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Elaborate security for idol procession

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Elaborate security for idol procession

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, SEPT. 19. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the Vinayaga idol procession, scheduled for September 20.

According to an official release, the procession, organised by the Hindu Munnani, arriving from the Madurai Central, North West, North, West, South, North East, East and Madurai city regions, will assemble near the Mottai Vinayagar Temple.

It will pass through South Masi Street, West Masi Street, North Masi Street, Old Chokkanathar Temple and Thaikal Bridge to reach the northern side of the Vaigai for a meeting. Later, the idols will be immersed.

The city police have issued a set of instructions for the processionists to ensure the event is peaceful. Carrying weapons, sticks and metal rods and raising provocative slogans have been banned. The organisers should give badges to the participants to prevent anyone from intruding.

A dome camera has been fixed in a vehicle to monitor the procession to spot suspicious characters. The idols will be numbered. Police pickets will be posted at 60 places that have been identified as sensitive. Heavy security has been provided to all mosques and temples.

Two Deputy Commissioners of Police, 10 Assistant Commissioners, 30 Inspectors, 75 Sub Inspectors, 900 constables, 400 Armed Reserve Police constables, 40 woman constables, two companies of the Tamil Nadu Special Police and 100 Home Guards will be deployed.

Traffic diversion

Vehicles bound for South Masi Street through East Veli Street and the East Gate will be diverted through East Marret Street and Mahal.

No vehicle will be allowed to ply from Hayathkhan Road to South Masi Street.

Vehicles will not be allowed to pass from the old T.V.S. Point to North Masi Street and West Masi Street; they have to take West Veli Street.

Parking of tri-cycles, light vehicles and heavy vehicles and loading and unloading of goods along the procession routes will not be permitted.

Procession peaceful

A procession of 108 Vinayaga idols, organised today by the Akhila Bharatha Hanuman Sena, passed off peacefully.

Even as heavy rain lashed, the procession started from the Vilakkuthoon junction and passed through four Masi Streets and culminated in Thaikkal, where the idols were immersed in the river.

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