Kerala   

‘Special pass’ posing problems

SABARIMALA: ‘Special pass’ issued from the office of the police controller at Pampa, permitting ‘VIP’ devotees to bypass the regular queue on the traditional trekking path leading to the Sannidhanam, has become a major headache to the law-enforcing agencies at Marakkoottom.

According to official sources, every day nearly 10,000 people approach the police at Marakkoottom with the special pass, permitting them to bypass the regular queue and proceed to the Ayyappa temple through the Chandranandan Road which has been made a one-way for the return journey of devotees from the Sannidhanam during the rush days in an effort to ease congestion on the trekking path.

Police sources at Pampa told The Hindu that they were forced to issue the pass, mainly to pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, on the special requests made by the office of VVIPs and VIPs that included Union Ministers, Governors and top bureaucrats. Pilgrims who managed to get the special pass were often found to have been arguing with the temple staff and the police personnel at the Sannidhanam, claiming that the pass further ensure them ‘special darshan’ at the Ayyappa temple.

Meanwhile, there were also allegations that certain dolly operators had been making money out of the way by transporting pilgrims in dollies along a few metres, bypassing the Marakkoottom- Saramkuthi one-way route, thereby facilitating their smooth passage through the Chandranandan Road during the rush days of the Makaravilakku festival. The dolly operators reportedly charge Rs.500 to Rs.800 for the 100-m travel.

It was also alleged that the illegal dolly operation was being carried out with the connivance of a few police personnel, leaving a black spot on the dedicated service being rendered by a majority of the police force at Sabarimala.

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

Stories in this Section

Plea for report on Pampa-Vaipar project
‘UDF expansion not on the cards’
Clay craft
‘Dream hut’ on a treetop
When love blossomed across continents
Winners all
Feeding the ward while fending for her family
Unprecedented rush at Sabarimala
Medical care
CPI(M), BJP disrupting peace: Chandy
Courtesy call
‘Special pass’ posing problems
Thiruvabharanam procession begins
Airport board to discuss issue of users’ fee
Brothers dead

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu