The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : No political angle to killings, says IGP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 09, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

No political angle to killings, says IGP

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, SEPT. 8. The Inspector General of Police of the Rayalaseema Zone, R.P. Meena, said that none of the recent killings of TDP leaders and activists in Anantapur district are political murders, but are a result of personal feuds and politics has nothing to do with them.

Addressing a press conference here today along with the DIG of Anantapur Range, N. Jayarami Reddy, and the Superintendent of Police, Anil Kumar, the IGP reiterated that the police had been completely impartial and were trying their best to prevent the killings.

He stated that the law and order position had deteriorated during the last 10-15 years in the district and it was not possible to restore normalcy overnight. The police were taking all measures to contain the criminal activities.

Circular to officials

"The district has suffered injustice and loss during the period and we are working for justice and planning safeguards. There were faction feuds only in Tadipatri and Dharmavaram areas earlier but later the mafia had spread its activities there,'' Mr. Meena said. He promised that they would change the atmosphere in the district within three months.

A circular was issued to the police officers recently to work with responsibility and impartiality. Irresponsible and partial officers would be given three months to mend their ways or else they would be sent out of Rayalaseema, he warned.

Asked whether they would initiate any action against the CI, Venkoba (promoted as DSP recently), who had allegedly suppressed a criminal case during the TDP Government, the IGP said it had come to his notice now and necessary action would be taken after verifying facts.

He condemned the charges of TDP leaders against the Anantapur DSP, B. Balanarasimha Reddy, and remarked that they were aimed to demoralise the police. There was no truth in the charges of the involvement of either the DSP or his son in T. Prabhakar's killing, he clarified.

The IGP further stated that in a recent review meeting it was found that 50 NBWs were pending in Dharmavaram police sub-division for the last several years due to reason of ''not knowing the whereabouts'' of the persons on whom the warrants were issued.

He said the families suffered at the hands of an influential group in the area were not ready to complain to the police even today. Their family members were killed and harassed.

But, action would be taken on the complaints given by victims of Dharmavaram and Penukonda areas to the Chief Minister, Home Minister and the DGP at Hyderabad on August 18.

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