Police Deny Lathi Charge Near Alipiri Bhudevi Complex
The SP warned that strict legal action would be taken against those spreading false videos and rumours on social media, and urged the public to rely only on official information.
TIRUPATI: The Tirupati district police on Thursday dismissed as false a video circulating on social media that claimed a police lathi charge on devotees near the Bhudevi Complex at Alipiri.
Clarifying the issue, district superintendent of police L. Subba Rayudu said no lathi charge or use of force had taken place and described the video and related messages as misleading and intended to create panic.
He said a heavy rush of devotees was reported at the Bhudevi Complex as pilgrims gathered to collect Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) tokens for Tirumala. After the day’s quota of tokens was exhausted, a large number of devotees rushed towards the counters simultaneously, leading to a brief tense situation.
Police personnel and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) security staff intervened and brought the situation under control. Some devotees staged a brief protest after failing to secure tokens, but dispersed after officials explained that the quota had been completed.
The SP warned that strict legal action would be taken against those spreading false videos and rumours on social media, and urged the public to rely only on official information.