Kerala Police to deploy over 10,000 officers in Sabarimala for festive season

The Kerala Police is set to deploy 10,017 officers in and around Sabarimala to keep the festive season in the temple town running smoothly.

Starting from November 15, the deployment will be done over five phases. Additional Director General of Police, Kerala, Shaik Darvesh Saheb has been appointed as the Chief Coordinator for law and order in and around Sabarimala. The temple opens on November 16 for the Mandala Pooja festival.

Twenty four officers in Superintendent of Police (SP) and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) ranks will be deployed. In addition, 112 Deputy Superintendents (DySP), 264 Circle Inspectors (CI) and 1,185 Sub Inspector/ Assistant Sub Inspector ranked officers are set to form a strong team of top officers.

The top officers will be heavily backed by 8402 civil police officers including 307 female officers. 30 women officers in CI, SI ranks will also be deployed during the Mandala Pooja festival.

The first phase from November 15 to 30 will see 2,551 officers at Sannidhanam (Temple shrine), Pamba, Nilakkal and Erumeli. This will include two SP ranked officers as Police Controllers and two ASP ranked officers as Additional Police Controllers. The second phase of deployment from November 30 to December 14 will see 2,539 officers on duty followed by 2992 and 3077 officers for the 3rd and 4th phases respectively.

An additional 1,560 officers will be deployed in Sannidhanam, Nilakkal and Pamba from the State Special Branch. The department has not made a decision about the deployment of women police officers in Sannidhanam, yet.

The Mandala Pooja is a custom observed at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala. It is observed from the first day of the 'Vrishchikam' month till the eleventh or twelfth day of the 'Dhanu' masam in the conventional Malayalam logbook. The day of Mandala Puja marks the finish of the 41 day-somberness observed by devotees of Lord Ayyappa. The sanctuary stays open on the vast majority of the days during the festive season. Devotees also visit the 'Guruvayur Temple' as a custom.