Caste conflicts on the rise: DGP

Vijayawada: Director General of Police N Sambasiva Rao said that caste- based conflicts increased in the new State, especially Amalapuram area in East Godavari district where above 100 such incidents were recorded.

The DGP said that Amalapuram area was really challenging to AP police and the department would act in view of general safety of public and ensure that no one can threaten them and damage public or private properties.

The comments of DGP gained significance in the backdrop of announcement of former Minister Mudragada Padmanabham who asserted that he would conduct a five-day Padayatra from Ravulapalem to Antarvedi beginning from November 16.

Addressing a press conference at his office here on Monday, Sambasiva Rao said that the police were facing challenges from Maoists in some pockets in the State and caste conflicts in some other pockets. “You can express your dissent in a democratic way but have no right to damage properties or threaten public,” the DGP said.

He said the organisers of agitation programmes must take permission from the police and an undertaking to ensure a peaceful march. Answering a question, the DGP said that they would take a decision on giving permission to Mudragada’s Padayatra programme after studying the past incidents. He also said Mudragada himself should take permission for the Padayatra.

He also said that Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act would be implemented as per Supreme Court guidelines if the demonstration turns violent. “Whenever a mass destruction to property takes place due to protests, the liability will be borne by the actual perpetrators and organisers.

We will inform the High Court and file cases on those persons. We will not spare anyone like we did in the earlier days,” the DGP warned.
On Tuni incident, he said, “We are assessing the damage and will take necessary action. “

The DGP said that they would increase security to Chief Minister and his family in the view of recent Malkangiri incident as there might be some retaliation from Maoists. But, he said, Maoists have no capacity to carry out any attacks. He also said they have no public support as their ideology had no relevance now.

The DGP said the police department was taking measures for rebuilding department in the new State. He said a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) would be established at a cost of Rs 253 crore in the new capital city area. He also said that Greyhounds training centre would be established in Visakhapatnam and Police Academy in Anantapur district.