With Chitra Pournami coinciding with the polling day on Thursday, district police officials have decided to deploy a separate contingent for security duty at the Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple, Girivalam path.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Vellore Range, V. Vanitha, said more than 1,600 personnel would be deployed for security at the temple and the town, ahead of Chitra Pournami.
Tight security
“Two superintendents of police (SPs) have been exclusively deputed to ensure security for pilgrims at the temple as well as at the Girivalam path,” she said.
Apart from the two SPs, three Additional SPs, 16 DSPs and 30 Inspectors will be part of the contingent.
The temple premises, the Girivalam path and the parking lots will be brought under the security blanket from 7 a.m. on April 18 till 4 p.m on the following day, another police official said.
Tiruvannamalai District Superintendent of Police M.R. Sibi Chakravarthy will supervise the security arrangements for the polling day and the temple security will be manned by a separate contingent headed by Superintendent of Police J. Mutharasi.
The security arrangements on the Girivalam route will be undertaken by the team led by Superintendent of Police C. Shyamala Devi.
Police officials have drawn an elaborate bandobust scheme for the polling day and the scale of security will vary at polling stations as per the requirement and legacy data.
A total of 3,617 personnel, including central paramilitary forces (CPF), home guards (HG) and ex-servicemen, will be deployed for duty on the day of polling.