Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Police security scheme for Pongala

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 14. The police have prepared a detailed security scheme in view of the Attukal Pongala festival scheduled to begin on February 16.

The City Police Commissioner, Balaram Kumar Upadhyaya, said a 24-hour police control room would start functioning from the temple premises on February 16. The festival area has been divided into eight sectors for policing purposes. The police anti-sabotage unit is in the process of inspecting the area.

As many 100 policemen and more than 20 police women would be deployed for security and crowd management duty on the first day the of the festival. The number of police personnel would be increased as the crowds increase. The Commissioner said as many as 30 lakh devotees are expected to visit the temple during the 10-day festival period.

Second phase

The second phase of the police bandobust scheme for the festival would come into effect on February 23 morning. The Pongala is on February 24. More than seven lakh women devotees are expected to make the pongala offering. Nearly 1,000 police personnel would be deployed in the city on the Pongala day. They include 220 women police constables, 40 Sub Inspectors, 24 Circle Inspectors and nine Assistant Commissioners of police. Armed and reserve police units from other districts would be put on the standby for emergency deployment.

The fire engines of the Fire and Rescue Service would be stationed at vantage points for quick deployment in the event of an emergency. The police have asked the temple authorities and other organisations involved in the event to take basic fire safety precautions. The police have been in liaison with civic authorities, voluntary agencies, hospitals and Attukal Temple Trust authorities for the smooth conduct of the festival.

Policemen and women in plainclothes would patrol the festival area to apprehend pickpockets, eve- teasers and those indulging in drunken and riotous behaviour. Senior officers and men would continuously patrol the festival area on foot. Begging would be discouraged in the festival area. A queue system has also been put in place to ensure the smooth flow of devotees.

Traffic diversion

Traffic would be allowed only one way along the Manacaud-Attukal route during rush hours till the festival is over. Vehicles going from East Fort to Attukal would have to take the Manacaud-Market Junction- Medamukku-Konchiravila- Kuthukallinmoodu-Kalipankulam-Valiapalli- Kameleswaram-Manacuad route. The Police said no parking of vehicles would be allowed along Manacaud-Konchiravila road till the festival is over.

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