Attacks on Sabarimala pilgrim vehicles flayed

SABRIMALAI:  Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam national general secretary  Kummanam Rajasekharan has condemned the attacks on Sabarimala pilgrim vehicles at Vandenmedu in the name of Mullaperiyar dam issue on Monday night.  Deploring the attacks in which 30-odd vehicles were badly damaged at Vandenmedu, Kummanam Rajasekharan asked the State Government to give fool-proof security and protection to the pilgrim vehicles,  which come from Tamil Nadu.   Kummanam decried  the ugly turn of events,  in which pilgrim vehicles were targeted by hooligans  in the name of Mullaperiyar dam issue. The government should not allow vested interests who take advantage of  Sabarimala pilgrims in the surcharged atmosphere on Mullaperiyar dam issue, Kummanam said. He urged the government to deploy adequate number of police personnel at check-posts at Kumily and Kumbumedu to give proper security cover for the pilgrims. Hundreds of pilgrim vehicles were forced to go back due to the blockade of vehicles at Kumily, he alleged.  Kummanam suspected the same elements who played mischief in Pulmedu tragedy were behind the Vandenmedu incident in which pilgrim vehicles were attacked.   The  government should deploy adequate number of police personnel at towns like Vandiperiyar,  Vandenmedu,  Kattappana, Peerumedu and Kuttikanamanti to ensure the safety of Sabarimala pilgrims, he  said.