The Hindu : Bomb hoax at Govindarajaswamy temple

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Bomb hoax at Govindarajaswamy temple

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI. Jan. 23. A bomb hoax in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam-run Govindarajaswamy Temple here, created a mild panic in the temple complex on Friday. Within 15 minutes of a call from an unidentified caller at 11.30 a.m. that a bomb had been planted in the ancient temple, the TTD security and vigilance officials besides the bomb and dog squads descended on the temple. The investigating teams had to wait for sometime as `naivedyam' was being offered to the deity at that time.

Once the priests finished the ritual and rushed out along with the pilgrims, the bomb disposal squad, explosive experts and the dog squad entered the temple and searched the temple for nearly two hours. However, it turned out to be hoax, much to their relief.

Meanwhile the TTD's Chief Vigilance and Security Officer, B. Balakrishna told reporters that a system of constant checking every four hours was already introduced in the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara to detect any possible lethal items in view of a higher threat perception to the temple.

He said that in view of Friday's experience, the periodical daily checks would be introduced in all the local temples of TTD.

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Andhra Pradesh