VIJAYAWADA: Tension prevailed for sometime at a dormitory belonging to Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanams (SDMSD) in One-town on Monday morning when a few devotees alleged the temple officials had arranged for CCTV cameras in the bedrooms and common rooms allotted to women.
However, temple executive engineer DV Bhaskara Rao said the cameras were installed to prevent untoward incidents from happening in the common spaces and that other rooms are allotted for men and women to change.
A family from Kakinada which had come to Vijayawada to attend a marriage ceremony in Kanaka Durga temple atop Indrakeeladri took two dormitory rooms in a complex run by the temple authorities.
When the women opened one of the rooms, they noticed that a CCTV camera was installed in it, and complained to the officials concerned, demanding an explanation.
“We were shocked to see that a CCTV camera installed inside a room allotted to women. It is okay if they install cameras in the hall and common utility areas, but how could they install cameras in bedrooms, keeping the privacy of women at stake,” a devotee asked, alleging that officials gave evasive responses when they demanded an explanation.
“The officials said the cameras were not working, or that they were installed by mistake,” he said.
“Devotees come here to take rest. We are responsible for their safety. If they want to change their clothes, they are supposed to go to the changing rooms available on every floor. Devotees should understand that the common room is a multi-purpose room,” Rao explained.