Date:25/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/25/stories/2007092555290500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Step up security in Puttaparthi, police told

Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has directed the State police to strengthen security in Puttaparthi in the wake of last month’s twin bomb blasts in Hyderabad and the intelligence agencies warning that the terrorist could make places like Tirupati and Puttaparthi their next targets.

He made a brief visit to the spiritual town on Monday and reviewed the security arrangements in the State in general and in Puttaparthi in particular in a meeting with the police officials.

Additional forces

The Home Minister directed the police officials to deploy additional personnel and utilise equipment and electronic gadgets to detect anti-social elements in Puttaparthi.’

On his arrival by road from Bangalore, the Home Minister was received by the police officers, Penukonda RDO S.V. Nageswara Rao, Puttaparthi Urban Development Authority Chairman K. Satyanarayana and others.

After an hour’s review meeting with the police officials he had a special darshan of Sathya Saibaba for about half-an-hour.

The Minister left for Bangalore by a special flight in the evening.