Thiruvananthapuram: As many as 15,259 police officers have been deployed to provide security at Sabarimala. Among them, 920 are women officers. The security has been arranged in four phases and 55 senior officers of SP and ASP ranks will be in charge.

The police will conduct an aerial surveillance drive later in the day along with the Air Force and Navy. The Pathanamthitta DCP will be the nodal officer for the air surveillance. The Ernakulam Range IG will be in charge of the operation.

Meanwhile, the state police chief has directed the district police chiefs to take suitable action against those who had damaged KSRTC buses during the violence that took place in connection with Sabarimala pilgrimage earlier. The KSRTC CMD had informed the police that the public carrier had suffered a loss of Rs 1.25 crore during the violence.

For Sabarimala duty, 113 officers of DySP rank, 359 officers of inspector rank and 1,450 officials of SI rank will be posted. In addition, 12,562 senior civil police officers and civil police officers have been assigned duty. The 920 women officials would include 60 SI and ASI level personnel and 860 senior civil police officers and civil police officers.

The sanctum sanctorum will open at 5 pm Friday when two new melsanthis (chief priests)- M L Vasudevan Namboodiri (Ayyappa temple) and M N Narayanan Namboodiri (Malikapapuram) will assume charge.

According to state police chief Loknath Behera, Sabarimala and surrounding areas would be divided into six sectors during the 'Mandala-Makaravilakku' pilgrimage season and security provided in four phases.

During the first phase from November 15 to 30, 3,450 police officers have been deployed. Among them, 230 are women. In addition, 349 SIs, 82 CIs and 24 DySPs will be on duty.

In the second phase from November 30 to December 14, 3,400 police officers will provide security. Among them, 230 will be women. As many as 312 SIs, 92 CIs and 26 DySPs will be tasked with Sabarimala duties. The next phase from December 14 to 29 will see 4,026 police officers on duty at Sabarimala. The number of women officers will again be 230. The SIs will number 400, CIs 95 and DySPs 34.

A Kerala police commando team with 20 members has already been assigned duty at Sannidhanam under a sub-inspector. Another 20-member commando team will be stationed at Pamba. A platoon of Thunderbolts is ready at Maniyar to tackle any emergency situation. A special bomb squad comprising 234 officials is also on duty at Pamba and Sannidhanam.

Two companies of Rapid Action Force are on guard at Sabarimala. Two teams of NDRF will also be deployed. A team from Karnataka police that includes a woman inspector, two women sub-inspectors and 30 women civil police officers is also on duty.