Pathanamthitta, Saturday 05 December 2009: Elaborate security arrangements have been made at Sabarimala in view of the 17th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6.

Ramdas Pothen, Police Special Officers at the San nidhanam and Pampa respectively, said security would be stepped up at Sabarimala from Saturday to Monday.

They said police would keep on tracking the pilgrim-flow right from Vadasserikkara on the Mannarakulanji-Pampa main trunk route to Sabarimala from today.

Ramdas Pothen said a special security system would come into force at the Sannidhanam today. Armed security guards, including commandos and special security guards (SSG), would be deployed at key points in the close vicinity of the Ayyappa temple, Malikappuram Bhagavathy temple and the Pampa Ganapati temple from today.

Special security cover would be provided to key installations like pump houses of the Kerala Water Authority, drinking water storage tanks, electrical sub-stations, transformers, etc.

Strength of the bomb detection squad would be increased with the inclusion of 25 more specially trained personnel from Saturday.

They would be deployed as ‘spotters’ at the Sannidhanam and on the trekking path. Every person entering the temple precincts would be subjected to thorough security check.