The Hindu

• The temple faces threat from terrorist organisations: VH
• ‘Metal detector at the entrance to the temple is not functioning’

Udupi, Feb 4: Various Hindu organisations on Sunday sought tight security for Sri Krishna Math/Temple and Car Street here as it faced threat from terrorists.

The organisations accused the district administration and the police of not providing security to the temple despite repeated requests.

Addressing presspersons here, Raghavendra Acharya, honorary president of the district unit of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), said that the Hindu organisations and the Ashta Maths had been urging the authorities concerned to convert the Car Street into a “vehicle free” zone as they felt there might be a “car bomb” attack on the temple and Ashta Maths. Central intelligence reports had indicated a threat to the temple.

Resolutions

A 10-acre area had been developed behind Rajangana for parking vehicles. Resolutions had been passed by the seers of the Ashta Maths and 47 traders on Car Street to make the road a “vehicle free” zone. A copy of the resolution had been given to the Deputy Commissioner and president of Udupi municipality in 1995, he said.

He said that the number of unauthorised street hawkers was increasing on Car Street. Policemen equipped with modern weapons should be deployed at Sri Krishna Math/Temple and Car Street, he said.

A delegation of the Hindu organisations met Deputy Commissioner P. Hemalatha on Saturday. She had promised to seek public opinion on the issue, he said.

Plan

Acharya said that a security plan, which included installation of 12 ft gates and construction of 12 ft walls at vital points of Car Street and installation of closed circuit televisions, had been prepared by experts. But it had not been implemented.

If the district administration and the police failed to provide adequate security to the temple and Car Street within a month, the organisations would install the gates and evict the unauthorised hawkers.

“Political parties should cooperate with us,” he said.

President of the district unit of VHP Y.N. Ramachandra Rao said the metal detector at the entrance to the temple was not functioning.

‘Security provided’

Deputy Superintendent of Police M.B. Nagaraj on Sunday said that adequate security had been provided to Sri Krishna Math/Temple.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Nagaraj said that a police outpost had been set up near the temple.

Police officers were regularly monitoring the temple, he said.

Deputy Commissioner P. Hemalatha said that the district administration would seek public opinion on banning vehicles on Car Street. Various organisations had made such a demand on Saturday.