SIT Report on Poll Violence Sent to ECI

Vijayawada: The special investigation team’s primary report on poll-related violence in AP was sent to the Election Commission and the state’s higher officials are waiting for its response.

Chief secretary Jawahar Reddy held a meeting with DGP Harish Gupta at the state secretariat on Tuesday and discussed the SIT report.

According to official sources, the SIT team formed on the orders of the Election Commission exposed the failure of the police to control the violence. The teams toured major violence-hit Palnadu, Tirupati and Anantapur districts for two days and examined 33 police cases in six constituencies.

SIT chief Vineet Brijlal and SP Rama Devi handed over the 150-page report to DGP Harish Gupta on Monday evening and this was forwarded to EC on Tuesday.

The sources said the SIT identified numerous lapses in the police investigation of these cases and asked the investigation officers for compliance at the earliest.

In strong actions, the state government has already transferred Palnadu Collector and Tirupati SP, while the SPs of Palnadu and Anantapur districts and 12 police officers were suspended for their alleged failure to control poll violence.

The CS and the DGP discussed the SIT in detail at Tuesday’s meeting, reviewed the situation and are now awaiting EC guidance for the follow-up actions.