Inspector General of Police (IG) Sreejith has once again been put in charge of the security arrangements in Pamba and Sannidhanam as part of the third phase of the security arrangements for Sabarimala which will begin from December 15. The security arrangements in Sabarimala have been planned out in four stages. The third stage which will begin from December 15 will go on till December 30.
The third phase will also see intelligence DIG S Surendran in charge of security in Nilakkal, Vadasserikkara and Erumely. G Jaydev IPS, the Kozhikode Rural Deputy Commissioner of police and PB Rajeev, the Crime Branch Superintendent of Police (SP) will be the police controllers at the Sannidhanam, while Karthikeyan Gokulchandran IPS and crime branch Superintendent of Police Shaji Sugathan, will be monitoring Pamba.
As many as 3,450 police officials were deployed at Sabarimala during the first phase of the security arrangements between November 15 and November 30 and as many as 3,400 police officials were on duty in the second stage which will end on December 14.
As per a report by manoramaonline, as many as 4,026 police officers will be on duty at the pilgrim centre, including 230 women officers during the third stage of security arrangements.
On duty will be 389 IPS officers, 90 circle inspectors and 29 deputy SPs. As many as 4,383 police officials will be on duty in the fourth stage from December 29 to January 16, including 230 women officers.
When the Sabarimala temple was opened on October 17 for the first time after the historic verdict of the Supreme Court allowing the women of all ages to enter the temple, violent protests had erupted in the areas of Pamba and Nilakkal. Several media vehicles and women journalists were physically assaulted by a mob of protesters on October 17 after which the security was tightened and a restriction was imposed at Sabarimala, Pamba and Nilakkal.