Madurai: Petrol bombs hurled near Meenakshi Temple

Unidentified persons hurled three petrol bombs in the vicinity of the Sri Meenakshi Temple on Wednesday night.

Police said there were no casualties in the incident.

The bombs were hurled within a span of two hours late last night. However, only one of it exploded. Broken beer bottles were recovered from the site, police said.

The incident occurred few hours after the National Investigation Guards (NSG) reviewed security arrangements in the temple.

NSG DSP Viswanathan and his team inspected the CCTV arrangements, queue system, and scanning equipments.

Police said sufficient protection cover was in place in the temple and its vicinity.

Mani, a local resident, said he heard a loud noise in the night and saw people running helter-skelter. Personnel from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and Special Investigation Cell (SIC) inspected the area.

SIU personnel said it seemed that some miscreants exploded the bombs with an intention to create panic. Initial investigation ruled out the terror angle.

Temple officials were requested to restrict usage of mobile phones inside the temple and use jammers, Viswanathan said.

Some changes in the security system have been suggested, he said.