The Hindu : Two cops suspended for `extortion' bid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Two cops suspended for `extortion' bid

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA, MARCH 2. Two policemen, an assistant reserve sub-inspector and a constable, were suspended today for extorting money from a pilgrim.

According to a Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams' vigilance guard officer, Rudra Kumar, assistant reserve SI, Narayana, and the constable, Srinivasa Rao, both belonging to Special Police Force (SPF), were posted at the baggage scanning centre in the darshan queue lines, adjacent to the main temple entrance, the `mahadwaram.' The duo, in course of their routine checking on Monday night, stumbled on timid looking Mallikarjuna from Bellary, who had Rs. 3,200 in his pocket and was on his way for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

After getting assured that the devotee was alone, the duo threatened him to part with the money or else get out of the darshan queue lines. The devotee, after entering the main temple complex, narrated the `humiliation' he had suffered at the hands of the SPF personnel to the TTD vigilance higher-ups, who took the duo into custody.

The Additional DG, Srivatsav, today issued orders suspending both the policemen with immediate effect.

After preliminary enquiries, the duo were handed over to the Tirumala crime police, who have registered a case.

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

Andhra Pradesh