Only 11 cops guard Bhadrachalam Temple!

BHADRACHALAM: The Ramalayam at Bhadrachalam attracts a large number of devotees from across the country but the lack of security measures is becoming a matter of serious concern for them.One of the oldest temples in the country, Bhadrachalam Ramalayam was constructed during the 16th century by a devotee named Bhaktharamadas alias Kancherla Gopanna who worked as the tahsildar of Palvoncha paragana. He was inspired by lord Rama and used the government’s tax collection to construct the temple.The presiding deity at the temple is popularly known as the poor man’s God which attracts devotees of all ages from across the country. But though the temple records a high number of footfalls, the government has provided only nine constables and two head constables equipped with five .410 rifles and 500 rounds of bullets for security. They have been given only five detectors. Though the temple officials and the police together arranged for four metal detector doors at the queue lines, they are not working presently.The present security arrangements are hardly sufficient in case the temple comes under attack, a senior police officer admitted. It was only after an agitation by the devotees that the police department reviewed the security arrangements and identified the need for improvement. The police department, headed by the Bhadrachalam ASP K Raghurami Reddy, prepared a security plan and sent it to the government on December 29, 2009. But the proposal is still pending.In the proposal, the police department had suggested increasing security measures, posting guards on four sides of the temple, arranging for additional weapons, having separate forces to monitor and maintain queue lines, patrolling around the temple, putting up safety alarm, CCTV cameras and VHS sets. But there has been no response from the government. Recently the temple officials reportedly decided to reduce the security available at present to reduce the burden of salaries. They passed a resolution in the trust board meeting and have sent it to government for approval. This decision is raising the anxiety of devotees.