Double-check system introduced in Kashi Vishwanath security

Varanasi, July 13 (UNI) Limbering up for the huge rush of devotees during the auspicious 'Shrawan' month at the world famous Kashi Vishwanath temple here, the district police has started the practice of double-checking every devout entering the highly sensitive complex.

''Only physical frisking will not be enough, the cops deployed at the entry points to the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanwapi complex have been directed to go for proper verification of names and addresses of each and every devotee to ensure a double-check of those entering the complex,'' Senior Police Superintendent S B Shirodkar told UNI here this evening.

As per the past practice, security personnel posted at the three entry points -- Chattadwar, Dhundiraj and Saraswati Phatak -- to the complex only frisked those entering the complex through hand held metal detectors as well as metal detector gates.

''This system will help us to ensure a complete security scan of each and every person entering the complex housing the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanwapi mosque especially during the month of 'shrawan' when the world famous shrine witnesses a heavy rush of devouts,'' Mr Shirodkar added.

The month of 'shrawan' starts on July 31.

While the district police chief refused any communal angle to this new practice, sources in complex security claimed the new system had been put in place especially in the wake of five youth caught moving suspiciously near the temple on Wednesday night.

Five youth -- Arif Hussain, Wasim Ahmad, Rashid Ahmad, Dilshad and Sunder Basnat -- two of them belonging to Darjeeling (West Bengal) were detained by security personnel while moving suspiciously near the Kashi Vishwanath temple on Wednesday night.

After hours of questioning and verification, all the five youth were set free by the police last evening.

UNI