Politicos control cops in Godavari districts

Hyderabad: Policing in East and West Godavari is more politicised and caste centric than elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh.

Deputy inspector generals of police of the region and superintendents of police of the districts have been shunted out earlier when they have refused to follow the line of politicians who patronage gambling and cockfighting.

Special branches of district police have also become defunct and are restricted to passport verification and press meet coverage; they seldom gather local intelligence.

Gambling, cockfighting, fake currency circulation, sex trafficking and human trafficking are serious issues in these two districts. There are several earlier instances where DIG and SPs have been shifted. Range DIG Mr Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat was transferred few days before he completed a year in office as the then Congress ministers wanted him not to act against violators. Likewise, West Godavari Superintendent of Police Mr Raghurami Reddy was shifted out by the TD government as he had acted tough against cockfighting in 2015.  Officials who have been posted in these districts have also been involved in controversial issues like East Godavari SP Mr Trivikrama Varma.

A retired IPS official of DG rank said, “MLAs patronise gambling and cockfighting gangs. If DIGs and SPs resist and implement the law they get transferred. This also applies to lower rank police officials. For instance an IPS official was called to the guest house of a drunk minister and was given a dressing down during the Congress regime for controlling his subordinate officer who was supporting gambling dens.”