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Security beefed up in Madurai for Thevar Jayanthi

Security in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu has been beefed up in view of the Thevar Jayanthi (the birth anniversary of Muthuramalinga Thevar, one of the greatest sons of the community, which the Thevars have adopted as their annual day) celebrations beginning tomorrow, District Collector A M Kasi Viswanathan said today.

He told reporters after presiding over an all-party meeting in the temple town of Madurai that 3,600 policemen, including three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, two companies of the Rapid Action Force, and three companies of the Tamil Nadu Special Police, are being deployed to maintain law and order.

Besides the local police, two companies each of the CRPF, RAF, and TSP have been deployed in Madurai Rural.

Ten check posts have been put up in the town and Madurai Rural to screen vehicles for weapons.

Kasi Viswanathan said 95 areas in Madurai Rural and 77 in the town have been identified as sensitive.

Police staged flag marches in Thirumangalam, Chellampatti, Chekkanurani and Usilampatti yesterday to instil confidence in the people. Similar marches will be staged in Melur and Melavalavu in Madurai Rural.

All liquor shops will remain closed for two days from tomorrow. All the 500 gun-licence holders in the district have been asked to surrender their weapons to the police, he added.

As part of the Thevar Jayanthi celebrations, the Thevar Peravai will launch its new party called Muvendar Munnetra Kazhagam and hold a conference.

UNI

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