Ramanathapuram, August 3, 2013: The district police, with the help of a private agency, have installed four speed dome cameras and eight closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) around the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram as part of the three-tier security system introduced recently.

After the recent serial blasts at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, security has been beefed up at the temple. The speed dome and CCTV cameras were installed on Friday with the help of Vision India to bring the entire temple precincts under the security scanner, Superintendent of Police N.M.Mylvahanan said.

He said the speed dome cameras had been installed at the entrances of the temple for a 360 degree round-the-clock surveillance. The cameras, which were equipped with infrared illuminators for night vision, could be controlled and rotated by a track system, he said.

Apart from this, eight CCTV cameras were installed at the four Car streets around the temple for surveillance of any suspicious movement of people around the temple, the SP said, adding that the images captured by the cameras would be monitored at a cabin at the temple police station.

The SP pointed out that four Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMD) had already been installed at the western and eastern entry points, at the Amman Sannadhi and at Theertham entry point, and all those visiting the temple, including pilgrims from other parts of the country, were allowed to pass only through the metal detectors.

Jansi, a sniffer dog, was also pressed into service every morning for detecting suspicious objects around the temple premises.

Vehicle parking around the temple had been removed and private vehicle parking at houses were allowed subject to verification, he said.

Meanwhile, C.Selvaraj, Joint Commissioner of the temple, said the temple authorities would install 15 more CCTV cameras inside the temple as advised by the police in addition to the existing 16 cameras.

K.Mayilvakanan, Temple Assistant Divisional Engineer, said 13 cameras were functioning inside the temple and the remaining three cameras would be installed after repair. The 15 new cameras would be installed in a month’s time, he said.

Source: The Hindu, August 3, 2013