Politicos' kin irk cops in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Since Vijayawada became the centre for state administration and political activity, various issues of law and order have crept in and the police are struggling to dealing with them due to lack of sufficient staff and other issues.

Issues with kith and kin of the ruling party politicians of the state have become a headache for the cops in and around the city. An incident of highhandedness of persons who claimed proximity with Gajuwaka MLA on Thursday only proved it. They had to be chased by cops before arresting them for gross violation of traffic rules, abusing and threatening officers on duty.

In December 2014, three drunkards thrashed a gunman of the deputy commissioner of police for stopping their over-speeding vehicle. When the trio was arrested, a local politician came to their rescue and got them released later.

Another major violation was a rally taken out by kin of central constituency MLA scaring public on MG Road in May 2015. Though the issue triggered state-wide outrage as videos on the road rage spread, police failed to take any action against those involved so far.

The vehicles belonging to MLAs, ministers, even ruling party politicians and their relatives use siren in place of regular horn as a sign to claim their political background at police check-posts and other areas. The same sirens are used to escape paying toll fee at tollgates across the state. Cars of politicians’ kin with such siren and labels get special entry at public and political meetings too.

Meanwhile, labels of MLA on the cars and Telugu Desam logos in place of vehicle registration number are a common sight in Vijayawada. Even if the police click pictures of car with such number plate, they can never be fined, as the posting address cannot be traced due to lack of registration number.