Hyderabad, November 05: In a move that sounds both suspicious and surprising, spy masters within the Andhra Pradesh Police Department are reportedly proposing a ‘base’ for a Regional Intelligence Office (RIO), Hyderabad region, adjacent to the Chief Minister’s camp office in Begumpet.
The proposal, sources say, means that Chief Minister K Rosaiah may himself be under watch round-the-clock! Though it is still not clear when Rosaiah intends to shift to the camp office, the proposal has raised many an eye-brow in the department given the hectic political activity in the State capital especially involving YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s camp.
Government sources told Express that the idea to have an RIO (subintelligence office) close to the CM’s camp office was floated recently. If the officers have their way, it would perhaps be the first time that an RIO would be operating from near the Chief Minister’s residence. Interestingly, former chief security officer (CSO) of the late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Ramesh Reddy, a noncadre SP rank officer, has been ‘hand-picked’ to head the RIO (Hyderabad region) after the present RIO Jagan Mohan Reddy retires in a month.
Ramesh Reddy is currently familiarising himself with the job under Jagan Mohan Reddy.
‘‘An RIO near the Chief Minister’s camp office would mean that the political head of the State will himself be under watch. If one is to read between the lines, this indeed is a suspicious move,’’ an officer remarked.
As of now, the RIO functions from the office of the IG Intelligence at Lakdi-Ka-Pul.
In normal course, Intelligence and Special Branch sleuths ‘cover’ the camp office routinely.
“The security systems in and around the camp office have to be beefed up for the VVIP’s security. But, where is the need for an RIO near the CM’s camp office ?’’ another officer wondered.
The Regional Intelligence Officer is expected to keep himsel f abreast of pol i tical developments, Maoist and terrorist activities, among other issues.
But the motive now appears to be to gather information about who is meeting the Chief Minister and for what.
—Agencies