Source: The Hindu
TIRUPATI, INDIA, October 10, 2001: In the wake of the US-Afghanistan conflict, the State Government today deputed the Inspector General for Intelligence to convene a meeting with the TTD and the District Police top-brass to review the existing security arrangements in and around the Tirumala temple complex and prepare a blue-print to step up security and prevent any possible act of sabotage. Just a few days ago the temple requested the state to make the area around it a “no-fly zone.” Today they decided to install x-ray scanners at the major entry points to the temple, including those for supplies to the kitchen. Each scanner is expected to cost US$63,829 a senior official said. Another major decision taken was to install explosive detectors, one each at the Vaikuntam Queue complex and one at Alipiri, at the foot of the hills. While the former is the entry point into hill station, the abode of the Lord Venkateswara, the other is the bee-hive through which thousands of devotees throng the hills daily from far and near. A door-frame-metal-detector would be installed at some point half-way up the foot-path and all trekkers would be frisked and their bags would be thoroughly checked by security personnel for any possible deadly materials. In order to monitor the movement of suspicious characters, the meeting has decided to install closed circuit TVs at the toll-gate for a round-the-clock surveillance.