Curbs in place: Security beefed up ahead of Thevar Gurupuja in Ramnad

Madurai

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, ministers and leaders of various political parties are expected to pay tribute at the memorial.

To ensure law and order, IG (South Zone), KP Shanmuga Rajeswaran is monitoring the security situation, while teams comprising five deputy inspector generals of police, 20 superintendents of police, 25 additional superintendents of police, 50 assistant superintendents of police and deputy superintendents of police, 24 local units, 27 armed reserve platoon and18 Tamil Nadu Special Police companies have been encamped.

As many as 12 traffic units were also in place to regulate the crowd. Besides, 11 bomb detection and disposal squads and sniffer dogs’ wing were also put in place. Moreover, surveillance has been enhanced and reviewed with the aid of unmanned aerial vehicle. Mobile camera vehicles, 78 CCTV cameras, wireless CCTV system, 30 tripod cameras and 100 handy cameras were also being utilised to monitor the situation, Ramanathapuram SP Omprakash Meena said on Monday.

As many as 85 statues of various community leaders in the district have been brought under security cover round the clock. Among 18 check posts in the district, eight such locations have been equipped with security cameras to monitor vehicular movement. Further, the SP said that watch towers were erected at eight locations, from where police personnel would monitor the crowd movement with binoculars.

A total of 103 locations were identified as prohibited and 63 as sensitive. As many as 800 barricades were put up on routes, which have been blocked to prevent entry to the prohibited routes. A few days ago, instructions for smooth conduct of Gurupuja were issued to representatives of 468 village vigilance committees in the presence of DSPs and Inspectors of Police concerned.

As many as 311 alleged trouble mongers were issued bonds under Section 107 of CrPC. Also, 15 emergency ambulance vans, 17 rescue vans, 10 fire and rescue service vehicles and medical teams were put in place as precautionary measure. A total of 60 striking force vehicles have also been kept ready. Patrolling has also been intensified with 50 four-wheelers and 42 two-wheelers, the SP said.