Officials of the central intelligence and State Police conducted a joint security audit at the famous Arulmigu Vaidyanathaswamy Temple in Vaitheeswarankoil in Nagapattinam district on Saturday to examine the security arrangements in the shrine and suggest measures to upgrade them.
Accompanied by the temple staff, the combined team of intelligence and Security Branch CID officers went around the ancient Lord Shiva temple, which is one of the nine navagraha sthalams, to get a first-hand account of the security arrangements in place at the shrine.
As part of their nearly four-hour long exercise, the team examined the direct and indirect access spots to the temple which attracts devotees from various parts of Tamil Nadu and other States.
The team members also went around the temple precincts, ascertaining the existing arrangements for movement of devotees inside the shrine, from the temple staff. This was the first time a joint security audit involving central intelligence personnel was being conducted at the temple, sources said.
The objective is to evaluate the security arrangements in place at the temple and suggest measures to upgrade them, a senior official said. The suggestions would be forwarded to Central and State governments.
Similar security audits were carried out in the past in important temples in the State, including Samayapuram Mariamman Temple and Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.
