A temple on the Karnataka–Andhra Pradesh border has become the centre of a row between the police of the two States, with the Andhra Pradesh police claiming jurisdictional power over the temple.
The Gudipalli police in Kuppam taluk of Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh came to the Kadumalleshwaraswamy temple on Mallappanabetta on Friday and said they would take up security arrangements during Shivaratri festival, claiming authority over the temple. However, the Kamasamudram police, led by police sub-inspector Vasanth, objected to it, saying that the temple falls under Karnataka limits. This led to an altercation between the two groups.
What records say
Mallappanabetta is located in the border area under Kamasamudram police station limits in Bangarpet taluk. Thousands of people from border areas of both the States throng the temple on the hill tract during Shivaratri. According to Revenue Department records, the temple falls under Karnataka limits as it is located on survey no. 62 under Donimadagu Gram Panchayat limits in Bangarpet taluk.
“The temple priests are being given honorarium by the Karnataka government and electricity line to the temple has been drawn by Bescom,” Mr. Vasanth said.
The land and road in front of the temple comes under Andhra Pradesh.

This is for the first time that the Andhra Pradesh police have claimed jurisdictional authority over the temple.
A hundi was installed at the temple on behalf of that State in the past.
“We have removed the hundi installed by Andhra Pradesh authorities and installed one of the Muzrai Department of Karnataka,” Assistant Commissioner C.N. Manjunath told The Hindu.

It was decided to maintain status quo for now and undertake a resurvey to settle the issue in the next couple of days, Mr. Manjunath said.

Mr. Vasanth said prayers and other rituals were conducted without any hindrance at the temple.