Date:20/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/20/stories/2004092003620500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Tight security for YSR's visit to Tirumala

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA, SEPT. 19. Security arrangements are being tightened in connection with the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's visit to the temple of Lord Venkateswara here on Monday on the eve of `Gardua seva' -- the most important event during the ongoing nine-day annual Brahmotsavams.

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy, who is expected spend only 45 minutes at Tirumala, will fly back to Hyderabad the same evening, after presenting a pair of silk vastrams to the Lord, a precedent set by the former Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder and president, N.T. Rama Rao, who was known for his devotion of Lord Venkateswara.

Painstaking efforts

With the nightmarish experience faced by the Police Department last year, following an abortive attempt on the life of the former Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on the same Garuda Seva day during Brahmotsavams by the People's War naxalites, the police officials seem to leave nothing to chance and are painstakingly supervising the arrangements.

Security has been stepped up at both the Alipiri toll gate, Tirupati, and the G.N.C. Tollgate, Tirumala. All the baggage of the visiting pilgrims is being thoroughly checked and the pilgrims are being frisked carefully.

Pilgrim rush to peak

The police have intensified combing operations in the dense Tirumala forests and on both the ghat roads, beginning this morning. Bomb disposal squads, anti-sabotage teams and Rapid Action Force are being kept on high alert. Apart from conducting `trial run,' the district police chief, V.V. Gopalakrishna, also ordered deployment of forces along the entire route from Tirupati helipad to Tirumala, through which the Chief Minister's convoy is to pass.

Besides this, the district police chief also supervised the security arrangements being taken up to meet the pilgrim rush, expected to be at its peak on `Garuda Seva' day.

Programme details

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy will reach the Tirupati helipad at 2.25 p.m. on Monday. After inaugurating the newly built out-patient block at the SVIMS super speciality hospital at Tirupati, Dr. Reddy will proceed to Tirumala at 3.45 p.m. to present the `silk vastrams' to the Lord on behalf of the State Government. Soon after the presentation ceremony, Dr. Reddy will motor down to the Tirupati helipad from where he will fly back to Hyderabad, to participate in the Chief Ministers conference the next day.