Thiruvananthapuram: Anticipating tension when the Sabarimala temple opens on November 5 evening for a day, the police have decided to initiate stringent action against the hundreds of people arraigned in the 150-odd cases registered in connection with the recent violence at the shrine.
The temple is scheduled to open at 5 pm on November 5 and close at 10 pm on November 6 for Sree Chithra Attath-irunal. Since the Supreme Court is considering the review petitions on women’s entry only on November 13, the police are anticipating women turning up for darshan on November 5 or 6.
State police chief Loknath Behera directed the police personnel to issue look-out notices against nearly 750 people wanted in the cases registered in connection with the Sabarimala issue. Many cases were registered by invoking stringent laws like Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Arms Act and for rioting and hence it would be difficult for those being arrested in these cases to get bail.
About 150 cases were registered across the state, including those on the hartal day. About 230 persons were properly identified and over 30 were already arrested and remanded. Over 500 people who could be identified were arraigned in the cases at Sabarimala as well as in other parts of the state. Several cases were registered in connection with sensitive propaganda over social media as well as raising threats against police officers.
The police feel that once stringent legal actions were initiated, the offenders may stay away from creating law and order problems in the near future.
A high-level meeting of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with top police officers here on Wednesday considered various options to facilitate women’s darshan at the temple.
A digital queue management system to control the flow of devotees from Nilackal itself and not allowing pilgrims to stay back at Sabarimala for long time were some measures being seriously considered. By introducing a digital queue system, the police also hope to collect the identity of those turning up for darshan.
The meeting also decided to link the virtual queue system for Sabarimala with KSRTC's online reservation system. This would help streamline the movement of pilgrims from Nillackal to Pampa. A website will be launched for the reservation system soon.
It was also decided to deploy up to 5,000 police personnel at Sabarimala during the Mandala - Makaravilakku season beginning from November 16.
Meanwhile, a section of police officers felt that the SC may give at least some time for implementing the order allowing women of all ages at the hill shrine.
