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Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has terminated the services of two outsourcing employees, Ramaswamy and Sarasamma, after they were found consuming non-vegetarian food near the Alipiri checkpoint. The area serves as a vital entry point to Tirumala, where strict vegetarianism is observed in keeping with the temple’s sanctity. A complaint has been filed at the Tirumala II Town Police Station, and both individuals have been permanently removed from duty. Consumption of non-vegetarian food, alcohol, or tobacco is strictly banned within Tirumala limits under TTD regulations. The incident, which took place near Alipiri, a sensitive security zone, has raised questions about the enforcement of these restrictions and the effectiveness of ongoing surveillance at the checkpoint. TTD officials said they acted swiftly after receiving a complaint and reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the spiritual and cultural sanctity of the holy hill. Previous security breaches This is not the first such incident at Alipiri. In January, a group of devotees smuggled non-vegetarian food into Tirumala and were later found consuming it. In March, two separate incidents involved unauthorised hawkers sneaking alcohol and ganja through the same checkpoint, resulting in disturbances near the temple. TTD officials have since intensified checks and reinforced security operations at Alipiri, ensuring that only vegetarian food and permitted materials enter Tirumala to preserve the sacred environment of the temple town.
