Security issues make Srisailam temple vulnerable

KURNOOL: How safe is Srisailam temple? Are VIP visits to the temple safe?  Not much, if one were to go by the version of the Temple Executive Officer Bharat Gupta. The temple town of Srisailam is covered by around 600 closed circuit cameras located at various points. There is, however, no mechanism to monitor the feed from them. It is really alarming at Srisailam.

Srisailam temple Executive Officer Bharat Gupta said that security at the temple is a “very serious lapse.” He pointed out, “We do not have sufficient staff to monitor the temple property. There  are four gates for entry into the temple. Security staff is being maintained. Still the security can be termed as ‘porous’.”
He added, “We do not have the budget to beef up security. We have requested Kurnool SP to provide us security.”

Gaining entry into the temple premises is the easiest thing at Srisailam as security staff is hand in  glove with the operators outside.With several VIPs including Union and state ministers, High Court and Supreme Court judges and top businessmen visiting the temple, providing foolpfoof security to those guests is a hard task within the temple premises.  Any one can gain entry into the temple at any time of the day is the official assertion. The top temple management is oblivious of the real security threats, it is alleged.

Only small objects of theft are reported while the bigger security aspects have not been reported or addressed to which is the reality. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, the excutive officer said that it is very disturbing to note that unauthorised persons gain entry into the Srisailam temple at will. There  is no screening machansim for them. People who have nothing to do with the temple are seen in the premises, including the sanctum sanctorium and at  a place where the hundi collections are being carried out, said EO Bharat Gupta.

On Monday we found a person who gained entry into the temple and was caught stealing silver objects, the EO said.  Sources at the temple said that  theft of gold and silver ornaments was a routine affair. “There are certain forces entrenched in the temple. I have been trying to ease them out and have installed several management practices to protect the temple from these threats, but still it is happening at regular intervals,” lamented  the Executive Officer.

However,  CS Rangarajan, Chief priest of Chilkur Balaji temple, who fought for protection of temple assets, said that it is the bounden  duty of the Executive Officer to protect the temple assets as custodian. He said that the EO can't shirk his responsibility. Kurnool district Superintendent of Police Gopinath Jatti said they provide security outside the temple. For all festival, police force has been deployed in good strength, he added. However what goes inside sanctum is not our purview, the SP said. The contract for the security of the temple has been bagged by a politician with close links to Chief Minister.

He also enjoys equal support from the main opposition leader in the  Assembly. With such infiltrators within the temple structure,  how could anyone  bring about a bureaucratic change is the moot question at Srisailam. In the past a police station at Srisailam was blasted by Naxlites in 2001. Also, 24 dalits were massacred at Vempenta vaillage in Atmakur which now falls under Srisailam constituency. The thieves set their on eyes on the offerings at the temple. It is common knowledge, that the pilgrims, who visit Srisailam temple pay their homage by submitting in the hundi kept in the temples their mite. Such collections, sometimes include silver and other valuable articles. These hundi collections form an asset of the Devasthanam, which they utilise for the purpose of propagating the religion and for serving the various objects for which the Devasthanam has been founded.