Two pilgrims from Maharashtra bound for the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara were today arrested for allegedly carrying a loaded revolver and disposing of some bullets at the Alipiri security check point near here, a senior security official said.
Sudhakar (50) was held for carrying the licenced revolver with six cartridges kept concealed under the seat of their car while his 25-year old son Harshavardhan for dumping eight bullets in a dustbin just ahead of the security point.
Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which governs the cash-rich shrine, Ake Ravi Krishna said the firearm, with licence issued for Maharashtra, was found during the routine security check heading for the hill shrine.
The father was held for carrying the weapon at a "strictly prohibited" zone, he told PTI.
A seer saw the son dropping some bullets into a dustbin as the car approached the security point and alerted the personnel, Ravi Krishna, a senior IPS officer on deputation to the TTD, said.
Later the two, hailing from Thane, were handed over to Tirumala police and further investigation was on, he said.
Sudhakar, his wife and son were travelling to Tirumala to offer worship at the Lord Venkateswara temple.
The officer felicitated the seer for alerting the security personnel about man disposing of the bullets.
Ravi Krishna appealed to the devotees visiting the hill temple to inform the security personnel about any weapon they may have and deposit them at the Alipiri security point even if they possessed an all-India licence.
Carrying a firearm with licence issued for one particular state was itself a crime, he said adding taking even a small knife to Tirumala was strictly prohibited as also liquor, tobacco and other intoxicants.
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