Hyderabad: The new Hyderabad police commissioner Kothakota Sreenivasa Reddy on Wednesday vowed to free the city of drug menace and warned establishments like bars and pubs against being involved in illegal business.
Taking charge of the Hyderabad Police after Sandeep Shandilya was relieved, at the Integrated Command Control Centre, Sreenivasa Reddy said that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was keen on curbing the drug menace in the state.
“Being commissioner of a metropolitan city, I take an oath to eradicate the drug menace from the root and make Hyderabad a drug-free city. I warn the drug mafia, peddlers, and pub management. No matter how influential you are, if found involved in this illegal business that is a severe threat to society, it is better to pack up and back down as there is no place for you here,” Sreenivasa Reddy said.
He said the drug mafia was targeting to increase its network in Hyderabad. “I assure you that we will make Hyderabad a clean and liveable drug-free city with our existing teams, who are well equipped and trained to deal in NDPS, detection, arrests, and prosecution,” he said.
“We will coordinate with Rachakonda and Cyberabad police commissioners and soon, hold a meeting with pub managements and other establishments, and issue fresh guidelines to them,” he said.
Sreenivasa Reddy said the concept of ‘friendly policing’ did not mean leniency towards lawbreakers, warning of stringent action.
“Hardly six to eight per cent (of the population) are criminals involved in various offenses in the city, while the police are around five to six per cent. In no way will we be friendly with these criminals; our priority is to protect the public from criminals in a friendly manner,” Reddy said.
Reddy said the most important task was a quick response to mitigate crimes and employ modern technology for probes to increase the conviction rate.
The commissioner said that the police would intensify the women's safety wings to control crime against women, students, and minors.
Postings and achievements
A 1994 batch additional DGP-rank officer, Sreenivasa Reddy completed holds M. Com and LLB degrees. A native of Kothakota in Mahbubnagar district, he has served as ASP of Bodhan and Kamareddy, officer on special duty (OSD) of Medak district, Commandant of 8th Battalion APSP Kondapur, SP of Nellore from 2000 to 2002, DCP of city traffic from 2002 to 2004 and as SP Warangal in 2007.
He took charge as additional director of ACB (city) and was later posted as IGP of Coastal Security Police in Vishakhapatnam. In 2014, he was named Special Secretary for the home department, and in 2015, he took charge of IGP (operations) for Greyhounds and Octopus. In January 2023, he was posted as ADGP.
Among his achievements are the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2010, the President Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2019, and the Ati-Utkrisht Sava Padak in 2023.
