Major security lapse during President’s visit to Indian temple

Tirupati: A major security lapse occurred during the visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to Tirumala on Sunday as he was forced to wait for 12 minutes in his car, after the religious ritual at the Tirumala Hindu Temple, until his driver returned to his seat.

The incident has given jitters to the staff of the Tiruumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), especially those dealing with security, the New Indian Express said.

President Sirisena and his wife waited for about 12 minutes inside the car as his security stood guard around it. With the TTD staffers scurrying about, the driver coolly returned from his own darshan of the deity. The President was reported to have been immediately driven to his guesthouse.

An inquiry has been ordered into the security lapse.

It is learnt that the driver and other members of Sirisena’s retinue sought permission from the temple authorities for a darshan of the deity. They were reportedly permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum despite the visit of the VVIP. Tirupati Urban Superintendent of Police Jayalashmi has reportedly questioned the temple authorities for giving permission to drivers and other staff during the VVIP visit.

President Sirisena along with his family arrived at Tirupati in India’s Andhra Pradesh on Saturday on a two-day pilgrimage to the famous Tirumala Hindu Temple in the sacred temple town of Lord Venkateswara.