Hyderabad: The ongoing Sakala Nerastula Samagra Survey has met with objections from unexpected quarters. The geo-tagging of residences under the criminals’ survey has the public bear the brunt. They allege breach of privacy by the police. The survey, started with much fanfare, has not touched politicians who are involved in various cases. So, it has failed to generate any political heat in the state.
The survey claimed its first victim in 23-year-old degree student Vemula Prashanth Goud from Nalgonda district who committed suicide on January 19. He was arrested nine years ago in a bike theft case and the court had acquitted him. The survey, started in January 18, instilled fear in him and he ended his life.
The police team, which called on offenders’ houses for geo-tagging, had to face opposition from house owners over loss of privacy. They said that the move will put their residences under continuous surveillance, said a resident of Kacheguda. This survey is not meant to harass anyone. It is just to keep a vigil on offenders, clarified K. Satyanarayana, inspector from Kacheguda station. “It is a continuous process and will not be completed in a day or two. We are targeting repeated offenders to bring them under our radar,” added the official.
The team is also facing difficulties in tracing offenders at the address registered at the time of the arrest. Their current whereabouts are unknown. As per the norms, when a person is arrested, the police station under whose jurisdiction his residence falls has to be informed. Since this is not happening, the whereabouts are unknown,” said an official.
Meanwhile, petty offenders, thieves and rowdy-sheeters are playing truant and the survey team is finding it difficult to spot them. Furthermore, the staff crunch adds to the woes. Going by the current strength, the state police is not in a position to conduct a mega state-wide data collection campaign effectively.
As many offenders have done a vanishing act, the survey has no clear picture on the number of offenders surveyed so far. “It will take at least four days more to get a clear picture on the number of offenders surveyed,” the official added.
