With the condition of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba turning very critical, the pilgrim town Puttaparthi has been placed under police cordon. Hundreds of policemen drawn from different parts of Anantapur and other regions of Andhra Pradesh, have been rushed to the town as the authorities began taking steps to tackle any contingency.

An uneasy calm prevails in this town of 25,000 people as shopkeepers downed the shutters while schools and colleges remained closed. Police have imposed prohibitory orders undersection 144 of the Indian Penal Code, banning assembly of five or more persons in the town. Police have also erected barricades on all the roads leading to the town and are checking every vehicle entering the town.

Published Date : Friday, 22/4/2011 2:48 PM IST