Vehicle checks at all Masi and Moola Streets

The Madurai City Police deployed a large number of policemen in and around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple on Thursday following threats to the shrine.

All vehicles entering the Masi and Moola streets were thoroughly checked as part of stepped up security measures. The policemen on the Masi streets said the exercise began at 6 a.m. They checked all vehicles, which went on till 10 p.m. Extra vigil was ensured at all the 21 points leading to the temple, the police said. Inspector-General and Commissioner of Police Sanjay Mathur said it was an exercise ahead of the Independence Day. “Though there is no specific threat, security has been stepped up for iconic buildings. Increased vigil is mounted in the temple, which already has a three-tier security. It will continue till August 15.”

BDDS teams

The temple has a full complement of BDDS (bomb detection and disposal squad) personnel on duty round the clock.

A police officer told The Hindu that they had been deployed in all the five towers to screen the devotees. “Perhaps, this is the only temple in Tamil Nadu where the police are posted for security, while in all other places of worship, the police are deployed for crowd regulation,” he said.

The temple police station, which has a sanctioned strength of 50, is functioning with 25 policemen, one Inspector and one SI. Though a senior police officer said shortage of personnel was “universal,” he admitted that the temple station should have the full quota.