Pathanamthitta, Wednesday 07 Jan 2009: Armed guards attached to the Rapid Action Force and the Kerala police will be posted at all gates of the Lord Ayyappa temple and at all entry points of the holy hillock as part of further strengthening the security arrangements at Sabarimala, Inspector General of Police Arun Kumar Sinha, who is also the police co-ordinator at Sabarimala, has said.

Mr. Sinha told reporters that strengthening of the existing security force at the Sannidhanam would be made by an additional deployment of 500 policemen from January 9, taking the total number of security force personnel, including Central forces, to 4,000. More Central security forces would reach Sabarimala by Friday, he said. Mr. Sinha said the security system at the Sannidhanam had been rearranged by incorporating Central forces to various inspection squads. The number of special squads too had been increased.