The extremists wanted to execute a terrorist attack during the ensuing Brahmotsavams at Tirumala. The terrorists were apprehended from Puttur town, located 35 kilometers away from Tirupati and is at the Andhra – Tamil Nadu border.

Terrorists Bilal and Munna Ismail came to Puttur in the guise of businessmen dealing in old clothes and chicken.  Their plan, as suspected by police, was to place bombs in ceremonial umbrellas that are used in ‘Garudotsavam’ of Lord Balaji.

The two extremists surrendered after 11 hours of gun battle with police. The cops holed up the terrorists who were staying at a house in Puttur. Following their surrender, the terrorists have been shifted to Chennai. One of the terrorists was injured in the gun fight and was treated at the local hospital in Puttur.

The police also freed a woman and two children who were in the custody of terrorists. The two terrorists belong to Al-Mun-Tahim and are suspected to be behind the killing of a BJP leader who goes by the nick-name ‘Auditor-V’.