Ramanathapuram, August 27, 2013: The district police have enhanced security at the historical Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple and the Pamban road bridge by deploying one company of Tamil Nadu Special Police (TNSP) and tightened the coastal security following a second ‘specific input’ of landing of intruders on the island coast.

Superintendent of Police N.M.Mylvahanan told reporters here on Monday that the district police received the second ‘specific input’ from the Intelligence Bureau on Saturday night that eight intruders with weapons would be landing on the coast by a boat, after Friday night’s anonymous call to the Maniachi DSP camp office that 35 intruders had landed in Rameswaram or Tuticorin coast.

After the receipt of the second input, coastal security had been further tightened in coordination with various other security agencies like the Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Security Group, Intelligence Bureau and the ‘Q’ Branch police, he said, adding 83 personnel, comprising one company of the TNSP, were deployed on Monday to beef up the security in the island.

He said after deputing 13 policemen for administrative work, 70 police personnel, with strike force, were posted at the temple, the Agni Theertham, visited by devotees to take holy bath, Danushkodi, the southern tip of the island, and the 2.3-km-long Pamban bridge which connected the mainland to the island.

The second intelligence input said eight intruders in a boat might land at Rameswaram, Thondi or Tuticorin and the district police had intensified patrolling and launched a joint patrolling with the Marine Police, the SP said.

“The entire coastline from Sayalkudi to SP Pattinam is under surveillance and on land, the temple is the focal point,” the SP added.

Armed TNSP force had been posted at both the ends and in the middle of the Pamban bridge, and vehicle checks were being carried out at three points in Mukundarayachathiram near Danushkodi, Pamban and Tollgate area.

All the lodges in the island were being checked and the identities of the foreign tourists were ascertained, the SP said, and added that the navy and Central agencies were sharing intelligence with the district police.

Ruling out any change in the traffic arrangement around the temple, the SP said “vehicles posed potential danger” and the movement of vehicles in the northern and southern car streets would not be allowed.

Devotees could get dropped near Agni Theertham and walk to the temple, covering a distance of hardly 50 metres, he said.

Source: The Hindu, August 27, 2013