Vijayawada: Political interference mars police action

Vijayawada: The police department in Vijayawada is able to control all sorts of crime by taking proper steps but checking crime by criminals having controlling political affinity has become a major challenge. Adopting technology and responding promptly, the police are tracking down miscreants but political interference in their activities still remains a problem they are not able find a solution.

In 2017, chain snatchings have come down to 80, along with thefts. Many burglar gangs have been arrested which has been possible due to strict surveillance.
The 907 CCTV cameras installed in the city is helping in preventing repetition of crime as criminals are fearing being caught easily. The police department's response to complaints has improved. Many cricket betting gangs have been busted and the technical aspects have been analysed.

Adulteration of drugs is also being prevented with the police recently even going to northern part of the country, where drugs are adulterated. Police have also achieved some success in checking cybercrime. Commissioner of police Gowtham Sawang is focusing on it and building a team with trained staff to tackle it. The police are even counselling parents of the youth, caught for violation of rules, and trying to wean them away from repeating the crimes.

Police in the city are able to tackle all major issues but not able to break the nexus between criminals and politicians and this is reflected in the case of Kalidasu Subramanyam alias Subbu's murder. Police know that Subbu has political connections but they could not prevent his murder. Criminals having political link cannot be checked and this leads to bigger crimes.

These criminals do not care for CCTV cameras or sections in the law and rules framed by the police. They murder people in broad daylight and use registered vehicles for that purpose without any hesitation. They are confident that they will not be caught in the clutches of the law, with the political clout they have. Except in this area, the city police has shown improvement in all other areas including rescue operations carried out during the boat capsize in River Krishna.