Tight security at Thrikkunnathu St Marys Church

ALUVA: Elaborate arrangements have been made by the police at the Thrikkunnathu St Mary’s Church and Seminary as the leadership of the Jacobite and Orthodox factions decided to celebrate the ‘Ormathirunnal’ on Wednesday and Thursday, separately, at the disputed church which has been closed for more than two decades.Around 1,000 police personnel led by five DySPs, 21 CIs and over 50 SIs will be deployed in the festival area for a couple of days.  Barricades have been put up around the church and water cannons are on standby. Vehicular traffic would be partially restricted. Ernakulam Rural SP K P Philip will monitor the arrangements. Meanwhile, District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth and the SP inspected the festival area and inspected the arrangements. Both factions would be allowed to offer prayers on Wednesday and Thursday, police said.