Hyderabad: Top cop tightens noose around inspectors to curb anti-social elements

Hyderabad:  Police inspectors across the city are on their toes following the recent suspension of Borabanda inspector K. Ravi Kumar and issuance of charge memos to SR Nagar ACP Y. Venkateshwar Rao and SR Nagar inspector V.R. Prasad Rao in surprise inspections by police commissioner Sandeep Shandilya.

In the checks, the charge memos were issued over the murder of one Redhawat Tarun Kumar, allegedly by rowdy sheeter Shaik Shareef, in Dasrabasti a few days ago. Shandilya’s action against the inspector was over his alleged failure to identify the rowdy sheeter’s residence, despite the model code of conduct being in place.

The memo cited laxity in discharging duty, given that the model code of conduct is in place for the November 30 elections and the police personnel were directed to identify anti-social elements and keep a check on repeat offenders.

In a meeting with the heads of southeast, west, and south zones on Wednesday, Shandilya directed officers to go tough on rowdy elements until the elections are over.

Following the top cop’s actions, station house officers across the city started visiting the residences of rowdy sheeters and collecting their GPS locations. Besides this, the police personnel also cleaned up their stations, updated general diaries, and disallowed leaves, in anticipation of a surprise check.

An inspector in the southwest zone could not give time to his batchmate, who visited him on Wednesday morning. “Abhi baat karne ka time nahi hai, sirf rowdy sheeters ke gharo ki shinakhat karna hai aur file maintain karna commissioner sahab kisi bhi waqt a sakte, meri naukari par risk nahi le sakta, aap phir khabi anana (I have no time to talk as I have to visit residences of rowdy sheeters… my job is on the line),” the inspector said.

Shankar Rao, a Home Guard, said: “I was strictly told by my inspector to assist the sub-inspector and station writer to clean and arrange the files of rowdy sheeters, while the writers were busy updating the rowdy sheeter’s details in their systems.”

The police have tightened the ship after the Election Commission of India transferred 13 IPS officers and four district collectors, including then city top cop C.V. Anand, in view of the upcoming elections, sources said.

“Since the day Sandeep Shandilya took charge as commissioner, he focused on the movements of rowdy sheeters, who are, in some or another way, connected with political activists and are a threat not only to the society but play a major role in threatening voters, distributing cash and violating the election code of conduct,” a senior police officer said.

According to police sources, there are over 600 rowdy sheeters each in the southwest and southeast zones, while the south zone has over 670.

“It is mandatory for the DCPs, ACPs, and inspectors concerned to conduct rowdy sheeter parades once in three months and counsel them. When a new officer takes charge, he/she first interacts with rowdy and history sheeters, collects their particulars, warns them and if needed, initiates bindover,” a zonal head said.

 Police sources said that the commissioner, to ensure a peaceful election, has conducted a meeting with the Special Branch (SB) and Task Force as well.

 “A special cell in SB keeps 24/7 surveillance on the entire rowdy sheeters. They watch their movements and activities after they are released from jail. The SB has their own informants and will give a daily situation report (DSR) on rowdy sheeters in their respective zones,” a police source said.