As per report for the first time in Sabarimala, police officers have been instructed to follow a firm dress code while on duty at the temple. Officers have been asked to wear caps, boots and belts, with their shirts tucked in. Meanwhile they must also turn up clean shaven and this is to ensure that they follow a dress code like at any other protest site.
Furthermore those on duty at the Nadapandal have been instructed to carry lathis and stone shields with them. Hence the officers also have to salute their superiors. Previously saluting senior police officials while on duty at Sabarimala was not necessary. Accordingly the orders issued by Kochi range IG Vijay Sakahre have allowed exemptions only to those officers stationed at the 18 steps and the sopanam in the temple.
Moreover IG Manoj Abraham, along with South Zone ADGP Anil Kant, is in charge of security operations at the site. Hence the orders have been relayed to all officers on duty right from the Sannidhanam until Marakootam, which is less than 2 kms from the temple and over 2,000 police officers have been stationed at the Sabarimala base camp in Nilakkal and over 1,000 officers, including 15 women officers above 50 years, are patrolling Sannidhanam currently.
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