DIG Bajpai Denies Allegations of Police Resource Redirection, Assures Safety for Vaikunta Ekadasi

 Tirupati: Anantapur Range DIG Shemushi Bajpai has dismissed the allegations that the police department had redirected its personnel from Tirupati for Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's programmes in Kuppam from January 6 to 8.

Allegations were that this redeployment left the Vaikunta Dwara Darshan token distribution centres in Tirupati without adequate security arrangements to handle the massive crowd, and caused the stampede deaths.

Addressing the media in Tirumala on Friday, the DIG clarified that separate police contingents had been assigned to both events, and there was no compromise on the security measures for the temple.

YSRC leader and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was among those who raised such allegations against the TD-led state government on Thursday.

The DIG claimed that meticulous plans were in place for Vaikunta Ekadashi, with over 2,424 police personnel deployed at Tirumala and 1,500 officers stationed in Tirupati to manage the token distribution centres.

“The allegations are baseless. We have ensured independent arrangements for both Kuppam and Vaikunta Ekadashi. We have sufficient personnel and measures in place to handle any number of visitors during the Vaikunta Ekadasi and beyond. Devotees can trust us that their safety is our top priority,” she said.

Speaking about the tragic incident at Tirupati’s Bairagipatteda token distribution centre, which resulted in the death of six devotees, the DIG said, “Preliminary findings suggest that the unexpected crowd surge and delayed decision-making on the ground contributed to the tragedy.”

She said a detailed investigation was under way to determine the exact causes of the incident. “The focus of the investigation includes whether gates at the token distribution centers were opened without adequate precautions, and whether there was potential negligence in crowd management by on-ground personnel,” she said.

To prevent similar tragedies in the future, the DIG said a comprehensive review is being conducted to improve safety protocols at high-traffic locations.