Andhra Pradesh

NJR faults police for mine attack

Thanksgiving: TTD priests blessing former Chief Minister N.Janardhana Reddy and Minister for Women and Child Welfare N. Rajyalakshmi after the couple offered prayers at the Venkateswara temple at Tirumala on Saturday after surviving a landmine blast in Nellore district on Friday.

TIRUMALA: Former Chief Minister N.Janardhana Reddy attributed Friday’s land mine attack on his convoy to the failure of the police. He said that the police had miserably failed in carrying out the required security drill which ought to have been followed during VIP visits.

Mr Reddy also said that even though his visit to Tirupati, where he was scheduled to receive an honorary doctorate from S.V.University on Friday, was made known to the police well in advance, the apathy of the department was reflective with the abortive attack by the Maoists on him and his wife.

The police, who should have carried out the checks of the culverts the previous night on the Nellore-Tirupati highway through which he was to pass, do not seem to have not done it, which ultimately led to the tragedy.

However, Mr Reddy appreciated the policy being adopted by the State Government in tackling the Maoist violence. Earlier, Mr Reddy and his wife, N.Rajyalakshmi, were accorded a warm reception by the TTD officials on their arrival at the main entrance of the temple. Prominent among others who received him included the TTD Chairman, B.Karunakar Reddy, Executive officer, K.V.Ramanachary, JEO G.Balaramaiah and other officials.

Speaking to the mediapersons after the darshan of the Lord, Mr Reddy said that his visit to the temple town was fixed well in advance. Later, after a brief stay at the Padmavathi Guesthouse, he left the place. The district police and the TTD security and vigilance officials made elaborate security arrangements in connection with his visit.

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