AP govt determined to crush Special Status Category stir

Visakhapatnam: The police will be firm with the protesters who turn up at RK Beach on January 26 demanding Special Status Category for AP,  a day before the two-day Partnership Summit. The police said they haven’t given permission for the protests and candlelight rallies on Republic Day due to Intelligence alerts.

In a bid to prevent the assembling of youths and students for the protest, the cops have imposed restrictions on Beach Road (Park Hotel to Coastal Battery) and made it clear that no vehicle will be allowed on this stretch from 6 am to 10 pm on January 26.

Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy dared the TD government on Wednesday to prevent him from participating in the YSRC candlelight rally on RK Beach on Thursday.

Police commissioner T. Yoganand said that IB has given inputs that anti-social elements can carry out an attack during the R-Day functions in Vizag and Hyderabad. “Due to that we did not give permission for the protests on Republic Day. There is no permission for the candlelight rally or any other protest on RK Beach,” he said.

Central Intelligence has issued a red alert which will be in force for 15 days before and after Republic Day. He urged parents not to allow children to take part in the protests.

Mr Yoganand said he has sufficient forces to tackle the situation. Police forces from across the state have arrived in Vizag. Check posts have been set up in the city to prevent crowds from heading to RK Beach. Those living on Beach Road have to produce IDs for permission to proceed. The area will also be under full CCTV coverage.