PATHANAMTHITTA: The police will tighten security at Sabarimala and the base camps of Pampa and Nilackal from December 5 to 7 in the backdrop of the 13th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh that falls on Wednesday.

Police Special Officers at Sannidhanam and Pampa Vijay Sreekumar and P. Prabha respectively have said the department would deploy additional security force, including commandos and special security guards (SSG) there during the period.

The Commandos and SSG will be deployed at key points in the close vicinity of the Ayyappa Temple, Malikappuram Bhagavathy Temple and the Ganapati Temple in Pampa.

Special security arrangements have also been made for vital installations like water tanks, pumping stations of the Kerala Water Authority and transformers of the Kerala State Electricity Board. Nobody would be able to enter the temple premises with out passing through one or the other door-framed metal and explosive detector installed before the gold-plated Pathinettampady (holy 18 steps) and at the northern gate of the temple.

Commandos will be deployed around the temple pond, Bhasmakkulam. The bomb squad will conduct periodic inspections at Sannidhanam, Pandithavalom and along the Sannidhanam-Marakkoottom stretch of the trekking path from Tuesday.

Pilgrims will be permitted to carry only the Irumudikettu (sacred bundle) while climbing the Pathinettampady till Thursday evening.

Nobody will be permitted to enter the Upper Thirumuttom (temple precincts) when the sanctum sanctorum is closed.

The gates before the Pathinettampady and the northern gate would be closed immediately after the Athazhapuja from Tuesday to Thursday as part of the security arrangements, the Special Officers said.

The ghee for the holy Abhishekom and the flowers for Pushpabhishekom will be permitted after thorough inspection by the bomb squad.

At Pampa

According to Mr. Prabha, the police team from the neighbouring States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will also join the special security team in Sabarimala on Sunday.

He said 18 intelligence squads under a DySP will be deployed at different points to ensure effective monitoring of the situation. Special police patrolling would also be made along the Pampa-Sabaripeetom path and the Cheriyanavttom-Valiyanavttom path.

Mr. Prabha said additional police force would be deployed at vehicle parking lots, bathing ghats and at the Pampa Manalpuram.

He said the entry of vehicles to Pampa Manalpuram through the Triveni Bridge across Pampa would be prohibited from Tuesday to Thursday.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail