Strong police presence at Thaipusam celebration on Thursday (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have ramped up security at temples at Hindu temples nationwide on Thaipusam following talk that a group was out to spray women devotees perceived as inappropriately dressed with paint.
Batu Caves temple chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah said some 2,000 police personnel will be deployed around the Batu Caves temple complex from Feb 5 to 12 during the celebration.
He said police will operate from five mobile police stations to be located in the vicinity Batu Caves.
Nadarajah said about 1,600 police personnel will be deployed during the silver chariot procession, which will leave from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple at Jalan Tun H. S. Lee on Feb 7 at about 10pm.
The silver chariot is expected to reach Batu Caves at around 2.30pm the following day.
Nadarajah said about 120,000 people are expected to participate in the procession.
"This is the biggest chariot procession in Malaysia," he said while assuring that women devotees need not worry about being spray painted by anyone.
The chariot will return to Mariamman Temple from Batu Caves at 4pm on Feb 10, a day after the Thaipusam celebration.
Ipoh Hindu Devasthana Paripalana Sabah chairman R.V. Suppiah said women coming for Thaipusam are assured that they can fulfil their vows and prayers without having to worry about being sprayed with paint at the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Gunung Cheroh and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Sungai Pari.
R. V. Suppiah said enough police personnel will be deployed to ensure no untoward incidents occurred.
Women devotees have been on tenterhooks after a Facebook user had posted a message in which he threatened to spray paint on "inappropriately dressed" women during the festival.
It was greeted with a public outcry and police vowed to nab the culprit behind the posting.
Subsequently a 29-year-old man was arrested by police in Seberang Jaya, Prai, Penang last month over the Facebook page called the "Thaipusam Spraying Group" had threatened to use aerosol spray paint on women, including those who wear the saree with their backs exposed.
The posting also was accompanied with pictures of saree blouse designs that deemed inappropriate.
Today Suppiah urged the devotees and public to adhere to the rule and regulations set by the temples to prevent any incidents.
The festival to kick start on Feb 8, will see Lord Subramaniar on the chariot leaving the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple after a special pooja at 5pm. The chariot will pass through Jalan Sungai Pari, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Lahat, Jalan Kidd, Jalan Sultan Yussuf, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, Jalan Raja Musa Aziz before reaching the temple in Gunung Cheroh.
On Feb 9 devotees will carry kavadis and pal kodum (milk pots) to fulfil their vows.
On Feb 10 at 6pm, the chariot procession will make the return journey through the same roads to the temple in Jalan Sungai Pari.