The Hindu : TTD security wing chief shifted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

TTD security wing chief shifted

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA OCT. 11. The abrupt transfer of the TTD Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (CVSO), E. Damodar, is believed to be the beginning of the revamping exercise of the entire TTD vigilance and security set-up.

The Government, which has initiated stringent measures, including the transfer and reshuffling of the top police brass, the district Collector, in the aftermath of the abortive attempt on the life of the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, by the People's War (PW) on the Tirumala ghat road, on October 1, is now concentrating on the `lapses' on the part of the TTD management and as a first step in the direction, transferred the TTD CVSO late last night.

It is understood that the Government took two factors into consideration before effecting the transfer. First, the inability of the TTD Vigilance and Security Department to rise to the occasion before and after the attack and secondly the failure of the department, in manoeuvring things during the `stampede' on October 1, at the conclusion of the `Garuda seva' festival, which left 21 pilgrims injured.

In the report submitted to the Government by various agencies, it was also categorically mentioned that it was the TTD Executive Officer, Ajeya Kallam alone, who shouldered the responsibility from the side of the TTD management (which has a workforce of 12,000 and has several hundreds of officers of various cadres) and monitored things single-handedly, at the SVIMS Hospital - where all the injured, including the Chief Minister, were admitted.

No responsible TTD officer, leave alone the Vigilance and Security Department, was seen at the hospital even on the second day, when the injured Chief Minister and others were airlifted to Hyderabad and Chennai.

To further compound the difficulties of the TTD Vigilance and Security Department, it is learnt that a false report of having completed the surveillance of the ghat road was furnished to the TTD management, the day after, the `blast', when the Chief Minister's wife, Bhuvaneswari, had the darshan of the Lord apart from the fact that no inspection was ever conducted, in spite of repeated instructions from the TTD top brass.

It is also reported that a senior vigilance officer tried to submit an incomplete record with an `ante date' at a meeting at Tirumala, immediately after the Brahmotsavam, to which heads of other TTD departments took strong exception, thus exposing the departmental personnel - which it is believed to have been viewed seriously by the TTD management.

Further, worsening the credibility of the department, a senior TTD official who was on a ten-day deputation at Tirumala during the recently-concluded Brahmotsavam, in the confidential report submitted to the management, categorically mentioned that one of the security and vigilance officers (of the cadre of DSP) was being heavily paid every month, by barbers of the Kalyanakatta.

Shocked at the adverse reports, which nevertheless affected the morale of the department, the TTD management had ordered an in-depth enquiry into all affairs including the `blast' and `stampede' incidents.

With the TTD management adopting a tough stance, it is believed that it is the `turn' for several other heads to roll. The anxiety is more felt particularly among officers who are on deputation in the department and have completed their term of service.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Hold unconditional talks with naxals, A.P. Govt. told

Naxals kill `informer'

Child worker rescued

Naidu advised more rest

Centre urged not to block Dutch aid

PCC chief repeats free power promise

Concerted effort needed to help road mishap victims: Governor

Athlete to the fore

Lull in blast probe

TTD security wing chief shifted