With the opening of the Sabarimala temple for the monthly rituals on Tuesday evening, the police have put Erumely and adjacent areas under a tight security blanket. According to S. Madhusoodhanan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kanjirappally, about 140 police personnel, including 10 police women, have been positioned at different strategic locations around the town — a major stopover en route to the hill temple.
The security apparatus will be maintained till the temple closes on February 17.
‘‘They have been tasked to regulate traffic and maintain the general security, while an additional batch of 50 officers have been kept on standby to meet any eventuality,’’ he said.
Besides Erumely, duty points have been opened along the Sabarimala-Kanamala route to monitor the movement of vehicles. This apart, the district police have made elaborate arrangements across the district to ensure law and order during the five-day period.
Protests
Official sources said the security around the town would be intensified further in case of violent protests in Sabarimala. There have been reports of various Hindu organisations resorting to violent protests in the town here in case of women pilgrims attempting to trek the holy hillock. The town, where thousands of pilgrims take a temporary shelter, witnessed a series of protests during the recently concluded annual pilgrim season over the entry of women of child-bearing age into Sabarimala.
Though the pilgrims had begun reaching the town here from Monday evening, the police blocked their onward journey to Sabarimala till Tuesday morning.
While the number of devotees is expected to be fewer this time, Erumely town is expected to experience a heavy rush during the period in view of the 10-day annual festival at the Erumely Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, which started on Tuesday.
