5 PILs seeking para-military cover for Aththi Varadhar fest dismissed

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad dismissed the pleas and stated State and the district administration to work out the necessary arrangements.

The bench also dismissed plea seeking to deploy CISF or BSF security at the temple on the basis that such special forces cannot be sent to all the places.

The pleas were moved following the death of six persons who allegedly died in a stampede while waiting to worship Aththi Varadar on July 18. The plea also contended that the facilities were not in commensurate with the crowd visiting the temple.

However, the government clarified that the six persons did not actually die of stampede, as they lost their life only after completing the darshan owing to the ailments they were suffering with.

Further, during the early hearing of the bench, on finding that six people had reportedly died on July 18, as many as 2.75 lakh devotees visited the temple and the bench wondered as to how so many people could have worshipped on a single day if there were no proper arrangements.

The government during the hearing submitted that due to the crowd, the darshan which was permitted from 5 am to 10 pm every day, has now been extended up to 11 pm. Ten ambulances, 10 bike ambulances and four centres for prevention of communicable diseases are under operation.

Two IGs, two DIGs, 14 SPs, 18 Additional SPs, 57 DSPs and 177 Inspectors have been deployed for security. In total, 5,500 police personnel were at the spot to regulate the crowd. Further, seven fire tenders and 250 firemen were available round the clock, Additional Advocate General P H Arvindh Pandian appearing for the State had submitted.