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Security to be upgraded in major temples

KR. Periyakaruppan

CHENNAI: Security will be upgraded in big temples in Tamil Nadu with modern gadgets and additional manpower. Surveillance cameras, metal detectors and scanners would be installed as a permanent security measure in major temples, including the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister, KR. Periyakaruppan, here on Wednesday.

Instructions were given to temple officials, who had come from all districts, that intensified security arrangements had become imperative in the current scenario.

Mr. Periyakaruppan authorised major temples to establish a closed-circuit television network and have a database of footage.

Besides installing door-frame-metal-detectors at entry points, security control room would be set up to monitor internal and external surveillance round-the-clock.

According to a senior official in the HR and CE department, temple staff and shopkeepers would be issued photo identity cards, a copy of which would be given to the local police for better coordination.

“In case the existing security is inadequate, temples will deploy private security personnel for crowd control and frisking. Vigil will be intensified at parking lots and unused areas on the temple premises. A thorough search would be done in the temple before the closing and opening of main doors,” he said.

Photographs of idols would be stored in compact discs. Steps would be taken to provide cloak rooms to allow devotees keep their baggage before entering the temple.

A two-day training programme in basic security aspects would be given by the local police to temple staff.

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