TIRUMALA: Security at Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara visited by thousands of devotees each day of the year, has come back into focus with two incidents of security breach that happened in less than four months.While a police officer of another state was caught in the temple queue complex with a service revolver earlier this month, a Pune man managed to sneak in his camera and click pictures inside the temple complex. Though his camera was confiscated, he pleaded innocence of the rules. But how the officer was ignorant of rules against carrying weapons and managed to bypass the security is a mystery.The security outside the temple was also brought under doubt when the golden umbrella on top of the procession chariot of the deity was stolen in February this year. The procession chariot was parked at the Vahana Mandapam and was guarded from outside. But the metal protective sheets around the chariot was cut open and the umbrella stolen.In view of these perplexing incidents, the temple authorities have decided to establish a police barracks on the sacred hills at a cost of `5 crore. This was sanctioned by the DGP K Aravinda Rao a couple of days ago.Considering that on an average, 70,000 pilgrims from across the country visit the temple shrine and several VIPs, VVIPs and foreign dignitaries visit the temple, the security needs to be fool proof. When asked, the security officials of TTD say that efforts are on to strengthen the existing security structure. A three tier system of security was proposed a year ago and the TTD authorities are mulling over how to implement it.The three tier security structure will consist of an outer fencing covering the perimeter of temple township, a second fence enclosing the immediate area around the temple and next an armed human security cordon around the temple. There will be surveillance and patrolling at every entry and exit point.TTD’s chief security and vigilance officer M K Singh said that they are overhauling the armoury of the TTD security.The present security equipment are more than 10 years old and proposals are being drafted to replace them with modern apparatus.According to him, TTD has to spend `30 crore to procure the modern equipment including metal detectors, bomb disposal equipment and litter detectors. Singh added that they are short of 250 guards and the same has been brought to the notice of TTD Specified Authority. The latter, in its latest meeting, resolved to send a request to the AP Police Recruitment Board for recruitment to the guard posts.“The state government and TTD has to work it out together and arm the TTD security with the latest equipment irrespective of the cost,” Anantapur Range DIG Charu Sinha said.However, several senior TTD officials are not in favour of increased presence of security personnel as they feel that the attitude of the police and security personnel creates unnecessary fear among the visiting pilgrims and they feel this will not bode well for the spiritual ambiance of the Tirumala township.
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