Visakhapatnam: Crime rate has surged in Anakapalli, while in ASR district, efforts have been made to combat ganja cultivation through Operation Parivartana. This significant revelation came to light during a review meeting held in both Anakapalli and ASR districts on Saturday.
Anakapalli district SP K.V. Murali Krishna highlighted a substantial decrease in various incidents, attributing this success to innovative outreach campaigns targeting the younger generation via mobile platforms. Educational videos on crucial laws, such as the POCSO Act, and awareness about drugs and cybercrimes engaged students effectively, and promotion of the Disha app resulted in positive outcomes, with 2,17,840 downloads and effective responses to women’s safety concerns.
He further emphasised that efforts were extended to road safety, yielding a 5% decrease in accidents and a 15% reduction in fatalities due to stringent measures against drunk driving. Addressing public grievances efficiently, the department responded to over 11,465 complaints with a quick average response time of 15 minutes to SOS calls. Proactive steps against drug-related crimes led to the arrest of 562 individuals involved in ganja-related cases.
He further clarified that, however, despite a 10% increase in physical crimes, the department remained steadfast in ensuring justice, disposing of 65% of cases and sentencing the accused in 3,883 cases, showcasing their dedication to upholding the law."
In the newly formed ASR district, SP Tuhin Sinha emphasised the significant progress that was made in combating extremist activities and the ganja trade. Operation Parivartana played a crucial role, destroying acres of plants and denting Maoist activities. Efforts to curb ganja trade resulted in the seizure of 21,785.29 kg of dry ganja, while alternative crop solutions over 10,290.5 acres dealt a significant blow to ganja cultivation. The district remains focused on these issues through stringent measures, awareness programmes, and cooperation with neighbouring districts for a safer community.
