Madurai temple under security blanket

After a specific alert from Central security agencies, the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple here has come under security blanket, police said here Sunday.

Reliable sources said Inspector General and Commissioner of Police Sanjay Mathur visited the temple with senior officers and reviewed the security arrangements.

According to a police official, the Central security agencies had issued a “specific” alert to the State Police following the recent twin-blast at Hyderabad.

Based on instructions from the office of Director General of Police, steps had been taken to step up vigil in and around the temple. The Central security agencies had warned of a “possible attack by trained terrorists who may have infiltrated to target specific infrastructural facilities in the country like in the past,” he noted.

In a bid to ensure that there was no let down, the present security arrangement was reviewed and adequate precautionary steps would follow with immediate effect, it was decided at a meeting, the officer said.

Entry restriction

There are five entrances to the temple and it is likely that one of them may be closed for devotees as a precautionary measure until further orders. The BDDS (Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad) police personnel would be deployed in the temple round-the-clock with immediate effect with about 50 trained police officials on guard. Restrictions on carrying eatables, electronic items and other gadgets inside the temple would come into force on Monday.

Watch-towers with armed personnel would be monitoring movements of people around the Chitirai Streets and neighbouring stretches. Video cameras would also be there. At present, vehicle entry on the temple area, which is prohibited for public, is open for VVIPs only. From Monday, the police are contemplating making it a ‘sterile’ zone. Devotees have been requested to cooperate with the police. Mr. Mathur appealed to the people to inform the control room if they spotted any unattended object.