Thiruvananthapuram: A letter of recommendation was sent to the Director General of Police (DGP), proposing that the premises of the Thiruvananthapuram Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple be designated as a no-fly zone. The letter, by City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju, explicitly urged the prohibition of helicopters and small aircrafts from flying over the temple’s airspace. This decision was prompted by a recent incident, when a low-flying helicopter raised security concerns and induced fear among the public.
There was an allegation that a serious security breach had occured when a private helicopter circled over the Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple, which comes under a five-tier security zone. Following this, the City Police Commissioner sent a letter to the state police chief demanding that the temple and its surrounding areas be declared a no-flying zone. The letter also suggests banning helicopters and small passenger planes from flying low, over the temple.
The recommendation is based on the finding that low-flying aircraft at the strategic location will affect temple security. At present only the use of drones is restricted. On the 28th of last month, a private helicopter flew low over the temple, circling it for a few times, creating panic.
Kummanam Rajasekharan, a member of the temple management committee, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, highlighting that the helicopter which had hovered over the temple grounds multiple times represented a grave breach of security. Following this, the city police commissioner forwarded a letter to the state police chief.
In a situation where air traffic over the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple is prohibited after 5 o’clock in the evening, the reported intrusion of a private chopper above the shrine is giving rise to an air of mystery. Criticism is escalating, highlighting that even after a week since the incident occurred, neither the state government nor the police had any knowledge of it.
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