TN activist taken into custody in Tirupati ahead of Sri Lankan President's visit

Tirupati: Policemen from the Tirupati urban police wing have stepped up vigil at the Renigunta airport, convoy routes and along the ghat roads ahead of Sri Lakan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Tirupati.

Policemen have fortified the temple town in view of the likely protests by Tamil Nadu based activists and political parties on Tuesday.

Renigunta police took one person SA Kumaran hailing from Tiruvallur into custody while he was moving around suspiciously near the Renigunta airport on Tuesday, hours ahead of the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's arrival in Tirupati.

While SA Kumaran landed in the police net, three of his accomplices reportedly managed to escape.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh police of the Tirupati and Chittoor wings who are constantly in touch with their Tamil Nadu counterparts have stepped up vigil and have intensified vehicular checks and frisking along the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border.

Suspicious persons are reportedly being taken into custody across the district for questioning but the police remain tight-lipped over the developments.

In view of the visit of the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa to Tirumala, the ghat road leading into Tirumala from Alipiri is to be closed for close to 2 hours later in the evening on Tuesday.

Armed policemen have been posted all along the convoy route as well as along the Tirumala ghat road.

According to sources, three convoys including two dummies are in place for the international VVIP’s 2-day visit to Tirupati.