Security for the Thevar Jayanthi to be observed on Wednesday will be raised to the next level with the district police set to introduce paramotoring, or aerial scanning of sensitive areas.
This follows on the heels of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) deployed during the Immanuel Sekaran death anniversary on September 11. Paramotoring will be done in and around Mudukulathur as a pre-emptive measure.
“The paramotoring is in addition to a combination of hi-tech devices like webcasting and wireless cameras being used for security, probably for the first time in the country,” Superintendent of Police N.M.Mylvahanan told The Hindu.
The SP, who launched the trial sortie of paramotoring on Monday evening at Mudukulathur, said this was yet another step to tighten security and ensure that the event passed off peacefully. This would be in addition to UAV, which would aerially scan Paramakudi and its suburbs, he noted.
As part of the multi-tier security arrangement, the police have decided to introduce webcasting at sensitive places and install wireless cameras at the memorial to enable senior officials gain access to live scenes via the internet in the control room.
“The DGP sitting in his chamber in Chennai can access live images through the internet and issue instructions to the officers concerned,” the SP said.
“With the introduction of the hi-tech devices, the entire district will be brought under the scanner,” he observed.
The webcasting cameras would be fitted in five vehicles, which would be patrolling the sensitive areas of Parthibanur, Paramakudi, Mudukulathur, Kamudhi and Pasumpon, the SP said.
Wireless cameras will be fitted in five watch towers at the memorial site in Pasumpon, the SP added. The cameras will be wirelessly connected to the special control room in Kamudhi and the officers will be able to access what is happening at the memorial site.
P.Manikannan, an instructor from the Paramotoring Institute near Mahabalipuram arrived at Mudukulathur on Monday and made a trial sortie, flying for about 15 minutes taking pictures and videos of the area, using the high-definition camera fitted in his helmet.
He will undertake more sorties on Tuesday, keeping police informed by means of a walkie talkie about people visiting the Thevar memorial in Pasumpon, the traffic position and any suspicious movements around and en-route to the memorial.
“I can fly non- stop for an hour from three feet to 10,000 feet high, covering areas around a 10 km radius, while keeping in touch with the police in the ground station," Mr Manikannan told The Hindu. He was happy that the police were using his services for the first time in the country and he was glad to be able to help the police in maintaining law and order, the pilot said.
Sivaganga SP Ashwin Kotnis said the UAV would be used in Thirupacheti area as part of security measures for Thevar Jeyanthi.
