Police: Devotees can pray in peace

Women believers told not to worry about ‘Thaipusam spraying group’

PETALING JAYA: Selangor police have reassured Thaipusam devotees, especially women, not to fret over the “Thaipusam spraying group”.

Deputy Selangor Police Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff said police would be on hand to control the situation and ensure their safety.

“There is no need to be afraid. We will be around to control the situation. Close to 1,700 police personnel are set to be deployed during Thaipusam,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He said police would be on the lookout if the group attempts to do anything mischievious or unlawful during Thaipusam.

DCP Mohd Fuad advised anyone thinking of breaking the law to think twice as they could face arrest.

A news portal reported MIC Wanita chief Datuk Mohana Muniandy as saying that three police reports have been filed against the group and more will be made to ensure that the culprits are captured.

The group had warned women to dress appropriately during Thaipusam in February.

Thaipusam spraying group page creator, Henry Barnabas, posted pictures revealing the backs of women donning different sarees with a comment: “Advance warning to Hindu female patrons coming to Thaipusam festival, beware of being sprayed with aerosal paint if found inappropriately dressed...”

The pictures showed the backs of women wearing designer saree blouses.

On his personal Facebook page, Barnabas slammed women from the “Karutthu Kannamaa group” for “acting innocent like Lebanese porn queen Mia Khalifa in a saree”.

The Karutthu Kannamaa group had earlier slammed the warning on dressing appropriately during Thaipusam.