The city police have drawn up a comprehensive security scheme for Vaikunta Ekadasi festival at Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.
In addition to city police strength, personnel from different districts of the central zone and from Erode, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts have been drawn to augment security for the festival that attracts a large number of devotees every year. Over 3,300 police personnel have been mobilised for bandobust duty that includes nine Superintendents of Police, five Additional Superintendents of Police, 32 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 81 inspectors and 176 sub inspectors for the festival that falls on Monday.
Nine companies from Tamil Nadu Special Police, 10 platoons from Armed Reserve, and 12 bomb detection and disposal teams form part of the elaborate security arrangement, police sources said.
Eleven crime teams have been constituted to check offences at the temple and in its surrounding areas on the day of the festival. Personnel forming part of the crime teams would move in plainclothes at different places in the temple and in the adjoining areas.
The sources said closed circuit television cameras had been installed at key points within the temple to monitor the activities. A senior police officer said full deployment of police personnel would be done on Sunday morning.
Fire and Rescue Services Department sources said five fire tenders had been deployed at different locations near the temple for emergency. Over 75 fire fighters have been mobilised for the festival.
