Security stepped up at Sabarimala after threat letter from UAE

PATHANAMTHITTA: Security has been stepped up at the Sabarimala temple after district officials here received an anonymous letter from UAE threatening to destroy the hill shrine within a month.

Though the authorities consider the letter as a hoax, the state and central security agencies guarding the hill shrine are taking no changes and have been put on high alert, a senior police officer said.

The letter was sent from UAE on December 4. It was not signed by any individual but the words "SIMI 786" were at the bottom of the letter, sources said.

It stated that the shrine would be destroyed before the Makaravilakku, which marks the culmination of the two-month long pilgrimage on January 14.

Thousands of pilgrims visit Sabarimala shrine every year. PTI CORR NM KJV BN RN 12181314 DELHI NNNN