Anantapur-Tirupati: Octopus Base Camp will be part of security for Tirumala following huge number of devotees throng every day, according to DGP J.V. Ramudu.
The DGP had further assured the Octopus wing at Tirumala would follow the customs and traditions of TTD while ensuring security. Mr Ramudu performed bhumi puja for construction of Octopus Base camp at an estimated Rs 15 crore near Papanasanam Road at Tirumala on Monday.
The Octopus Base camp would help to tighten security measures at Tirumala and surrounding parts. TTD had allotted 1.5 acres of land and also Rs 5 crore assistance towards establishment of Octopus wing at Tirumala.
Accompanied by the TTD executive officer Sambasiva Rao, the DGP inspected the proposed site and said senior police officers would be deputed for Octopus wing at Tirumala.
The DGP, who had darshan of Lord Venkates-wara Swamy at Tirumala, told the media that most of the red sanders smugglers including top international smugglers were nabbed from various parts of the country since two years to curb red sanders smuggling from Rayalaseema.
As already a special police station was set up to look after the red sanders cases, a proposal was also with the government to set up separate court pertaining to the smuggling cases, Mr Ramudu observed.
Referring to amendments in the Act to punish the smugglers, the DGP recalled that the smugglers would get a minimum of 10 -year imprisonment and no bail would be permitted. The DGP had reviewed with the officials over measures against red sanders smuggling and other illicit activities in Chittoor district on Monday.
The DGP observed the police department had succeeded in nabbing most of the international and inter -state smugglers from various parts including Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
