Tirupati Stampede: Naidu Orders Judicial Probe; Transfers SP, CSO & JEO
Tirupati: A day after the death of half a dozen devotees in a stampede at Tirupati, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday transferred Tirupati Superintendent of Police (SP) Subba Rayudu, Chief Security Officer (CSO) Sridhar, and Endowments Joint Executive Officer (JEO) Gautami, while DSP Ramanakumar and Goshala In-charge Harinath Reddy were placed under suspension for negligence in discharging their duties.
The action follows after Naidu inspected the spot and reviewed the situation in Tirupati with senior officials.
Naidu also ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident that occurred two days before the auspicious Vaikuntha Ekadasi.
The incident took place when a large number of devotees were standing in a queue to collect tokens for having darshan of Sri Lord Venkateswara Swamy at Tirumala during Vaikuntha Ekadasi on January 10.
Naidu reprimanded officials, including TTD EO J. Shyamala Rao, for failing to leverage technology to ensure a safe and hassle-free darshan at Tirumala. Naidu became serious when officials said that they had implemented the practices followed earlier.
He stated that action would be taken against other officials responsible for the incident after the probe report is received.
