Excise, vigilance turn blind eye to prohibited items at hill shrine

Tirupati: The incidents of people consuming alcohol, smoking cigarette and cannabis (ganja), most of them from among hotel workers who settled at Tirumala for livelihood, have increased recently in spite of ban on use and sales of alcohol, cigarette, gutka other tobacco products in Tirupati.In such a latest incident, police red nabbed a pilgrim, Anilkumar of Nizamabad while he was consuming alcohol openly on road at Senkumitta cottages and sent him to judicial remand.

Highlights:

• A pilgrim found in an inebriated condition and with half consumed bottle of liquor
• Five persons were caught recently smoking ganja and consuming liquor near temple
• Vigilance officials say banned items are being brought to the hill by some persons through trekking path

Three enforcement agencies, police, excise and TTD vigilance, are tasked with curbing use of banned items at Tirumala, including their illegal transport, but there have been repeated instances of banned items being found on the premises of holy shrine. According to TTD vigilance sources, some people are bringing these prohibited items in a secret manner through trekking path. This is a clear failure on the part of excise wing and TTD Vigilance in carryout out thorough checks on foot path route.

Vigilance personnel caught a group of local youth while openly consuming liquor at Four Mada street right near the temple three months ago and registered cases against them. On April 25, locals found a group of youth smoking cannabis at Nakkalolla shops in a desolate place, which has become a haunt for some people to consume alcohol and other prohibited items.Similarly, on April 27, some empty alcohol bottles, gutka and tobacco packets were found at Seshadrinagar cottages public toilets by pilgrims who brought the issue to the notice of vigilance department.

According to sources, Balajinagar area, D Type quarters, vacant places behind Nakkalolla Shoping complex, Gogrbham dam forest area on hills are the places where banned items are being consumed. But police or vigilance personnel never conducted raids on these places.Mainly some young hotel workers, who were addicted to cannabis, alcohol and prohibited tobacco items, are the usual suspects. They also use cannabis. Smugglers are using different secret methods for transporting of cannabis, alcohol and other prohibited items to holy shrine.

When contacted, Vigilance Gourds officer (VGO) Ravindra Reddy said, “Our vigilance and special protection forces are thoroughly checking everyone at Alipri tollgate and two footpaths. While people are bringing alcohol and cannabis and other banned items in different secret methods, some drivers are also indulging in such activities.

By K Nethaji