Mumbai Mirror

Mumbai, Jun 29: Devotees thronging Siddhivinayak temple in Prabhadevi can now rejoice. The state government, after a security review, has decided to allow coconuts and garlands inside the temple on condition that temple trustees install additional scanners and depute support staff to frisk people.

Even the home department will deploy additional police for temple security,  said Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil ( who also holds the Home portfolio) after receiving a report from Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) K L Prasad.

RR Patil has asked trustees to install scanners and employ more security guards to frisk people
Prasad was asked to prepare a report on the ban on coconuts and garlands following widespread resentment against the decision. The ban came following intelligence reports that a bomb could be placed inside a coconut. The ban had angered the faithful as well as religious groups and political parties.

The report drafted by Prasad states that security needs to be stepped up at Siddhivinayak temple. “More gadgets should be installed at all entrances so that no explosives can be sneaked inside”, it states. There is also a proposal to depute plain-clothes policemen inside the temple premises, home department sources said.

Patil stated that the temple trust should install at least two scanners on the temple premises. “The trust can afford to install the scanners besides appointing additional staff to man them,” Patil added.

Meanwhile, MNS president Raj Thackeray has welcomed the government’s move to allow coconuts and garlands inside the temple. Both Patil and Thackeray had recently toured the temple premises after the former opposed the ban on offerings.