Title - Pamban bridges come under security cover

The century-old Pamban rail bridge and the more than two- km-long road bridge connecting Rameswaram island to the mainland are being brought under security cover to avert possible sabotage , following the recent terror attack in Hyderabad.After throwing a security blanket over the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, following specific intelligence inputs that it could become a target for a terror attack, the district police, as a precautionary measure, brought the two bridges under round-the-clock surveillance. “There is no specific input about threat to the bridges, but it has been decided to bring the two bridges under surveillance as they provided the vital rail and road links to the pilgrim centre and could be a target,” Superintendent of Police N.M. Mylvahanan said.A posse of four beat constables each would be deployed at the Mandapam and Pamban sides in two shifts, he said adding that the constables controlled by Mandapam Inspector of Police would keep vigil around the vicinity. He said that police would hold a meeting with people residing down the road-bridge on both the sides and sensitise them to bring to the notice of the police if they spot any stranger and come across any suspicious movement.The beat constables would be deployed from Saturday in addition to the Railway Police, which had been providing security under the bridge and on the track.

Meanwhile, a strong contingent of 58 police personnel, including two Inspectors of police, 8 Sub-Inspectors of police and 48 other personnel, was deployed on Friday to provide 24-hour security cover to the Ramanathaswamy Temple, Mr. Mylvahanan said. The temple had been provided with a three-tier security cover in addition to the existing security setup, he said.