Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams security men sleep as thieves raid guesthouses

TIRUMALA: Pilgrims staying in the guesthouses and cottages run by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) at Tirumala have been facing an increasing number of thefts.

The lapses in the security set-up were exposed recently when two thefts were reported in a span of 20 days. In the first incident, which was reported on July 3, thieves entered the Manimanjari guesthouse and decamped with Rs 2 lakh in cash and gold ornaments and a mobile phone, while the devotees were sleeping.

On Monday, thieves broke into Room 47 at Sannidhanam guest house and stole 100 grams of gold and Rs 20,000 in cash. Both the guest houses are situated near the Sri Padmavati guest house which houses VIPs.

The sudden increase in theft cases has thrown a challenge at the TTD vigilance and security wing and the police.

It was learnt that the police had repeatedly asked the TTD to enhance the existing CCTV surveillance in and around its guest houses at Tirumala.

Tirupati superintendent of police K.K.N. Anbu-rajan said the police had completed a security audit.

Technological interventions were being made in the security mechanisms in phases, he said.

The SP was confident that the theft at the Manimanjari guest house on July 3 would be cracked soon. He said that police had collected key clues in the theft reported at Sannidhanam.