TTD to procure anti-drone tech to protect Tirumala hill shrine, take legal action against Tamil film crew for remixing Govinda Namavali

Hyderabad: Amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the affairs of the famous Tirumala hill shrine, has decided to procure anti-drone technology to shield the temple from potential attacks. The decision was approved during the TTD Board meeting held on Tuesday.

"The decision to implement anti-drone technology, keeping in mind the security aspect of the Tirumala temple, was taken in today's TTD Board meeting," said TTD Executive Officer J Syamala Rao.

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, recently TTD conducted a comprehensive mock drill demonstrating counter-terrorism measures to protect devotees.

The exercise was held at Sudarshan Chowltry near Lepakshi Circle atop Tirumala, showcasing techniques to repel terrorist infiltration. The drill featured Assault Dog Enemy Attack and Room Intervention operations.

Twenty-eight OCTOPUS commandos, 25 TTD Vigilance sleuths, 15 police officers, and 10 Andhra Pradesh Special Police personnel participated, demonstrating their expertise in handling security threats.

Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, recognised as one of the richest Hindu temples globally, maintains a sophisticated multi-layered security system to protect both devotees and the temple premises. This includes coordinated efforts between TTD and the Andhra Pradesh Police, deployment of specialised anti-terror units like OCTOPUS (Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations), and rigorous vehicle and luggage screening protocols.

The temple attracts between 70,000 and 80,000 pilgrims daily, with numbers swelling beyond 1,00,000 on special occasions. OCTOPUS, an elite anti-terror commando unit, bears primary responsibility for security operations at Tirumala, working alongside other security personnel.

In addition to security measures, the TTD Board approved steps to address staffing concerns, including the transfer of non-religious personnel working in TTD through alternative arrangements or by offering them the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).

Legal action against Tamil film crew

The TTD Board also resolved to pursue legal action against the creators of the Tamil film "DD Next Level" for remixing the sacred Govinda Namavali in a manner that allegedly hurt devotees' sentiments.

Jana Sena Party workers from Tirupati recently lodged a formal complaint with the Tirupati One Town Police Station regarding the song "Srinivasa Govinda" in the film, stating it was filmed in a manner disrespectful to Lord Venkateswara.

The Jana Sena Party has called for a ban on the film, asserting that it offends Hindu sentiments and damages the deity's reputation. "We insist that the offending song be removed from the film. Until these demands are met, we propose that representatives from Tamil Nadu should not be allowed to have darshan at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple," said Jana Sena leader Kiran Royal.