THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though there were gun-totting commods and Rapid Action Force personnel deployed in many pockets from Nilakkal to Sanndihanam, about 500 people believed to the miscreants managed to sneak in to Sannidhanam through the forest, according to the police.

Among them, there were persons who indulged in violence during Tulam pooja.

ADGP Anil Kanth reported in the police headquarters that those who unleashed attack were men who hadn’t taken the route via Pamba. This conclusion was made as their faces were not captured by CCTV cameras at Pamba.

Police said they had started inquiry into the facts that helped these men take the forest route without the permission of the Forest department.

The policemen were not deployed inside forest as special permission of the Forest department was required for this. As the darshan was only for a day, the police presumed that the protestors would not take the forest path for fear of wild animals.

Those who went for darshan through forest path also insisted on staying back for a day until they were able to perform Neyyabhishekham. Police attempt to evacuate these people from Devaswom rooms and dormitories also failed.

Meanwhile, Police headquarters acknowledged the flaw in security arrangement though they see it as a trial run for imminent Mandalam season. Within six hours after opening of the temple, the Sabarimala reportedly came under the direct control of protestors. Several media persons and women were heckled by the protestors who were extra cautious to ensure that no young women entered Sannidhanam.

Though 1300 police personnel were deployed at Sannidhanam, they could do nothing much as protestors and devotees outnumbered them. Even the police had to hand over their microphone to RSS leader Valsan Thilankeri to address the crowd in order to avoid any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, DGP Loknath Behera has asked officers from CI rank to ADGP rank to forward suggestions for improving the security arrangements next time.