Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will inaugurate a dedicated police station for Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai town on December 27 during his two-day visit to the district.
During his visit to the district from December 26-27, Mr. Stalin will inaugurate a three-day mega agricultural exhibition, a new bus terminus and a wholesale flower and vegetable market in the town. Police said the idea to have a seperate police station for Arunachaleswarar temple was aimed at ensuring the safety of pilgrims, including foreign tourists in the temple premises and its surrounding areas.
Every day, on an average, around three lakh devotees visit the temple town. The footfalls increase manifold during weekends and festival seasons. “Initially, the new police station will function from the existing Tiruvannamalai town police station building, before it gets a permanent building near the temple. A land is being identified for the purpose,” a senior police officer told The Hindu.
Police said that well-known temples like Palani (Adivaram police), Rameshwaram and Tiruchendur have seperate police stations to cater to its needs, especially crowd management, and to prevent petty crime targeting devotees.
At present, Tiruvannamalai town police cover Arunachaleswarar temple and all the 39 wards within Tiruvannamalai Corporation limits. It deploys police personnel, including woman constables, on bandobast duties to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
A small police outpost also functions inside the temple to regulate devotees. The outpost, which was formed over four decades ago, has around five police personnel led by a special sub-inspector (SSI).
As per plan, the new temple police station has been formed by bifurcating the British-era town police station, which was established in 1890s. All four Mada streets around the temple and residential areas will come under the new temple police station. It will be manned by around 50 police personnel, including women constables. It will include all three wings of the police - crime, law & order and traffic. At present, the district has 54 police stations including 39 law and order stations.
Devotees said that a separate police station for the temple can help to regulate devotees in the temple, thereby reducing the total waiting time of pilgrims getting darshan. It will also help them to easily reach concerned police personnel to report thefts and other petty crimes immediately.