Hyderabad, June 30: There may not be suppression of people’s voice using lathis and guns in Andhra Pradesh hereafter.
Setting a precedent in doing away “uncivilised way of dealing with public movements”, the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday issued strict instructions to all the district superintendents of police against opening fire in the name of controlling mobs at public agitations. They should instead find innovative means to control mobs.
Chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and home minister Sabita Indra Reddy made it clear to all the 25 district SPs that they do not want to face the criticism of suppressing public movements with force. The CM referred to a few instances of firing which caused embarrassment to the government. Even Sabita told them that every firing or lathi charge incident could be avoided if the police had the patience and professional approach to deal with the angry mobs.
The cops and the district collectors were advised to work together and understand the genuineness of the problem highlighted by such agitators and try to address it, instead of suppressing their voice.
“Don’t even trouble innocent people in the name of their supporting or sympathising Maoists. Be stern in dealing with the Maoist problem but don’t trouble even a single innocent”, the CM told the police officials.
–Agencies