Mobile photos of Tirumala put security on toes

Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh), Aug 6: Security personnel at the world famous Sri Venkateswara Temple here went into a tizzy after a devotee allegedly took pictures inside the temple using his mobile phone and circulated them to his friends.

The devotee, whose identity was yet to be established, allegedly entered the high security zone of the temple with his mobile phone and took photographs, including those of the golden Lakshmi idol near the 'Srivari Hundi' and sent the clippings to his friend, who flashed them to his friends, including those in the media.

The TTD Vigliance Officials have already taken into the custody three people at Tirumala and were interrogating them.

Denying that the pictures were taken by an outsider, TTD Chief Vigilance and Security Officer Ramana Kumar said the employees might be involved in the incident aimed at bringing disrepute to the TTD Vigilance Wing.

Investigations were on and the guilty would be punished, Mr Ramana Kumar warned.

Security in the periphery and inside the temple were tightened after the recent serial blasts at Bangalore and Ahmedabad. The incident put the security establishment in a spot as it occurred despite the tight vigil maintained at the complex.

UNI