Kapu violence in AP attributed to failure of intelligence agencies
In an emergency meeting, CM Chandrababu Naidu expressed his anger over the police and intelligence failure.
Hyderabad: Sunday’s violence at Tuni in East Godavari district has been attributed to the failure of the police department, particularly intelligence agencies.
In an emergency meeting held with officials in Vijayawada on Sunday evening following the violence by Kapu agitators, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his anger over the police and intelligence failure.
While protesters were gathering in large numbers and given that their leader Mudragada Padmanabham is known for his rebellious methods, the police did nothing.
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Mr Naidu said: “The police didn’t smell it. Intelligence didn’t smell it. I also didn’t anticipate this kind of situation. I only anticipated that other castes may react.”
Police didn’t anticipate the plan of the protesters as the venue of the Kapu Garjana was in a coconut grove near the railway tracks.
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Police force maintained restraint, says DGP
A senior leader of TD said, “Like the May 2010 incident where the meeting was held near Mahbubad railway station in Telangana state, the agitators hurled stones as there are a lot of stones on the tracks. They also found it easy to blockade as the venue was near the tracks.”
Director general of police J.V. Ramudu said that the police was restrained.
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“There was enough force at the venue. We have 4,000 policeman in East Godavari district. We maintained restraint. They told us it was a small meeting and they did not apply for permission. They turned out in large numbers,” he said.
The DGP said that it was a planned violence. “Most of them were drunk. Liquor was supplied on a large scale to the agitators. It was a planned violence. We will identify all the perpetrators and book them.”
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He added, “Our superintendent of police was near the police station and he was attacked by the mob. Our forces were told to maintain restraint.”