Tirupati Tirumala temple is one of the most crowded places in the country with scores of pilgrims visiting every day. Shockingly, there were gun scares at the temple; the police have recovered loaded guns from pilgrims during security check - not one, but twice in just the last week.
On Wednesday, police recovered a loaded gun with six bullets during the security check from a man who was trying to enter the temple. Tirumala Police have identified the detained person as Sudhakar from Thane. They recovered the weapon after checking his car.
Local media reported that the weapon owner possessed a license for the gun. However, he was not authorised to carry the weapon to Tirumala.
In a similar security check, police recovered a gun with 14 bullets, along with alcohol (prohibited in the temple premises), from another man on August 2.
Both men hail from Maharashtra and were detained.
Speaking to TV9, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam, Chief Vigilance Officer, Ravi Krishna said that police have initiated 24/7 checkings at the temple premises.
“The detained committed two crimes. Although, he possesses a valid license for the gun, he is permitted to carry it only in Maharashtra, he violated that. The second crime is concealing the weapon by hiding it under the seat, which is a crime under Arms Act,” he said.