Vijayawada: Police will respond immediately to complaints, says DGP D Gautam Sawang

Vijayawada: DGP D Gautam Sawang has said the police would respond immediately to the complaints lodged by the people and made it clear that any person in the State can visit any police station and lodge complaint.

He said the State police were trying to maintain transparency and accountability and conduct the local body polls in a peaceful manner. Sawang has appealed to the people not to believe the misinformation spread that the police would not respond to the complaints.

Addressing a media conference at the State police office in Mangalagiri on Saturday, Sawang said the police were investigating 57 complaints received related to the elections recently. He further said, 'We will verify every single incident and so far no major case of law and order breakdown has been reported in the State', he added.

He said 3,184 non-bailable warrants issued against rowdy-sheeters and over 11,000 bind over cases registered to prevent any untoward incident in the State. Sawang said 1,540 licensed weapons were surrendered in the State.

Referring to the police force, he said over one lakh police force and ancillaries were drafted for the election duty and the State police have asked for more police from the States of Odisha, Telangana and Karnataka and talks are underway.

He said 2,849 polling stations were identified as sensitive. He said 4099 route mobile teams and 714 striking force teams were drafted for the election duty.

Sawang said 54 drones will be used to monitor the polls in the extremist-affected areas and satellite phones will be used in areas where mobile network services are not available. He said the State police along with the prohibition and excise departments had conducted Operation Sura to destroy the illegal liquor manufacturing centres and prevent supply of liquor in the elections.

He said liquor and money play very important role in influencing the elections and strict vigil is being maintained to check distribution of cash. He said Rs 1.08 crore cash has been seized in the raids in different parts of the State. He reiterated that the State police would do everything to conduct the elections in a peaceful manner and appealed to the people not to believe the misinformation spread in the State.

He categorically made it clear that people are free to lodge complaint in any police station if there is need and the police would respond immediately.