GUNTUR: The Guntur Urban police began keeping a check on the movement of rowdy-sheeters to restrain hooliganism in the city and other towns under their limits. The police department noticed the involvement of these anti-social elements in various cases following which it was decided that they should be counselled and that their families be asked to wean the criminals away from illegal activities.
There are 668 rowdy-sheeters in the limits of 16 police stations of Guntur Urban police. The police officials held counselling for them in the concerned police stations and also visited their houses to counsel their family members. On July 31, a rowdy-sheeter was murdered at Chakalikunta in the city due to old rivalry. Similar incidents were also registered in the recent past. In the past, the rowdies in Guntur were famous as “chain batch.”
Guntur has become the main centre of AP government with the announcement of new capital at Amaravati, which is near the city. Guntur is also the main commercial and trade centre. So the police has decided to suppress rowdy activities for maintenance of law and order. A highest number of 92 rowdy-sheeters were registered in Arundelpeta police station in the heart of Guntur.
As many as 55 rowdy sheeters are registered in the Nagarampalem police station. Over 55 rowdy-sheeters were registered in Tadepalli PS where CM N. Chandrababu Naidu is lives at present. Locals said that rowdyism was increasing in the city due to rising land value. Sk Jani, D Ramulu and others recollected that once Guntur was famous for rowdy activities including murders that was later restrained. But due to rising land values and businesses, the rowdism is once spreading. They welcomed the police initiative of keeping an eye on rowdy sheeters. The police officials are visiting the house of rowdy sheeters to counsel family members asking them to reform their rowdy sons, fathers and other family members.
Nagarampalem CI Sridhar Reddy said that some of the youth lack knowledge of laws and the police department holds counselling for their family members who are the worst sufferers. Guntur urban SP Ch Vijaya Rao said that police was giving a chance to rowdy sheeters to live a normal life.
