The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Meenakshi temple comes under high security cover

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Monday, Jul 28, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Meenakshi temple comes under high security cover

Special Correspondent

Vehicles not allowed on four Chithirai streets around temple

— Photo: S. James

Upshot of blasts: West Chithirai Street in the city wearing a deserted look on Sunday.

MADURAI: A four-tier security has been formulated at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple here following specific threats received by the police.

Commissioner of Police K. Nandabalan, who reviewed the arrangements on Sunday, told reporters that the entire zone around the temple would be monitored by at least 300 police personnel from different wings of the police. As a precautionary measure, plainclothesmen had been deployed inside the temple as well. For Puja materials would be permitted after a thorough check.

Mobile phones would not be allowed inside the temple. A police control room would function round-the-clock in the temple premises. After detailed examination, it had been decided not to permit any vehicle on the four Chitirai streets, though it may inconvenience devotees.

Workers selling puja articles inside the temple and temple staffers would have to produce their identity cards at the entrance.

The police had installed doorframe metal detectors at all the entrance points. Bomb detection and disposal squad had been equipped to check sensitive points inside the temple.

Apart from the armed police, traffic police and personnel from special wings had been deployed, Mr. Nandabalan said.

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