Foolproof security for Tirumala hill shrine

TIRUPATI: Tirupati Urban Police District SP J Prabhakara Rao, who won accolades from DGP V Dinesh Reddy for providing foolproof security for the just concluded annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala, is contemplating introducing a unique policing system on the hill shrine.Speaking to Express, the SP said: “We have mooted the idea of providing comprehensive security cover to Tirumala in the wake of increase in terror threat.The police, in collaboration with other agencies, have prepared a plan of action after studying different security aspects of Tirumala.The plan will be implemented soon after getting the approval of TTD.” There is a need for the comprehensive security setup for Tirumala as it receives about 50,000 pilgrims a day on an average.Now, the action plan is ready.It can effectively combat any terror threat, the SP said.On the law and order situation in Tirupati, he said it was satisfactory.It is very difficult to prevent thefts in Tirupati, a popular pilgrim centre with a huge floating population.Hence, there should be a separate setup to deal with thefts and burglaries.“We have already intensified the night patrol in the town by increasing police beats to 35.A police team comprising a DSP, two inspectors and six sub-inspectors and constables, has been set up for night patrol.The main focus of the team is to prevent thefts and burglaries, Rao said.Pilgrim Found Dead in Private LodgeTirupati: A pilgrim to the temple town Raj Pujari (32) was found dead in his room in a private lodge here on Wednesday.The victim, who hailed from Mumbai, checked into the lodge on October 7 and paid his room rents regularly.But, as he did not come out of his room since Wednesday morning, lodge staff sensed something wrong.They knocked on the door and when there was no response from the occupant inside, they forced open the door and found Raj’s body hanging from the ceiling.The lodge officials had alerted East police who reached the spot