Concern over scaling down of security at Krishna Mutt

The Hindu

Udupi, 06 August 2011: The police have scaled down security to the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Temple/Math here on account of reduced threat perception, but the temple authorities claim otherwise.

 

About a year and a half ago, the district administration declared the Car Street as a “vehicle-free zone” in the light of terrorist threat perception to the Sri Krishna Temple/Math. The temple is located on the Car Street.

 

After the declaration of “vehicle-free zone”, five gates were installed on five roads leading to the Car Street in places such as Kanakadasa Road, Badagupete Road, Sode Math Road, Tenkapete Road and Admar Math lane.

 

Metal detectors were also installed in these five places, which were manned by a policeman each. Besides, a platoon of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) was on standby near the temple.

 

 

But now the situation has changed. Though the Car Street, which houses many shops and commercial establishments, still remains a “vehicle-free zone”, no metal detectors are found at the five locations. The metal detectors have all got spoiled due to exposure to rains and have been sent for repairs. The KSRP platoon is not to be seen. There is only one metal detector at the entrance of the Sri Krishna Temple/Math.

 

Superintendent of Police Y.S. Ravi Kumar told The Hindu on Wednesday that the threat perception to the temple has reduced. Priority was now being given to only crowd management. A total of 12 policemen are presently guarding the temple.

 

He had sent a proposal to the Government to set up a police outpost near the temple. If this proposal came through, six police personnel would be deputed at the outpost. Since the metal detectors, installed by the temple, had got spoilt, no police personnel is manning them, Mr. Kumar said.

 

‘Significant threat’

 

But the Dewan of Paryaya Shiroor Math P. Latavya Acharya said there was significant terrorist threat to the temple. The number of devotees coming to the temple had increased nearly 10 times in the last five years.

 

As many as 20 CCTV cameras had been installed in the last one year in addition to the existing 14 CCTV cameras at different locations in the temple. “Though we have appointed 14 private security guards, they are no match for the trained policemen. Hence the police should increase security to the temple,” he said.