PATHANAMTHITTA: Security personnel were on red alert at Sabarimala on Tuesday, the 13th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid.

However, there was heavy rush at the Ayyappa temple on holy hillock. The queue of devotees went beyond Saramkuthi in the morning hours.

The devotees were made to pass through doorframes fitted with metal detectors on the Saramkuthi path and at Valiyanadappanthal, Northern Gate, Paandithavalom and before the holy 18 Steps to the temple.

Even the Irumudis were subjected to random check using hand-held metal detectors. The devotees were not permitted to carry mobile phones, digital cameras or any electronic equipment to the temple premises.

A police team had a tough time collecting mobile phones from devotees before they ascended the holy steps. Sannidhanam Sub-inspector Nandakumar said no fewer than 10,000 mobile phones were kept in safe custody at the Sannidhanam Police Station on Tuesday night and they had been returned to their owners.

The Additional Director-General of Police S. Pulikesi, who is the Chief Police Coordinator at Sabarimala, has been camping at Sannidhanam since Monday to monitor security arrangements.

A bomb squad used handheld metal and explosive detectors to inspect ghee and flowers brought by devotees for Abhishekom.

The police have been keeping a close watch on pilgrims ascending the Neelimala from Pampa since Monday morning.

Armed guards had been deployed on the Pampa Ganapati Temple premises as well as Sannidhanam from Sunday. As many as 300 police personnel joined as reinforcements to the force on Sunday as part of the high-security alert.

Review meeting

The Principal Secretary E.K. Bharath Bhushan, who is the Chief Coordinator for Sabarimala, has convened a meeting of departmental heads and officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board at Pampa on Tuesday to review the arrangements in Sabarimala for the smooth conduct of the pilgrim season.

Devaswom Commissioner C.G. Satchidanandan; A.J. Rajan, District Collector; B. Mohanan, Adoor Revenue Divisional Officer; and N. Damodaran, District Medical Officer; attended the meeting.

Travancore Devaswom Board president G. Raman Nair visited Nilackal and Pampa on Tuesday.

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