Nizamabad: Five cases have been registered under various police stations and 42 members of VDCs arrested in a drive against high-handedness of Village Development Committees (VDC) in this district.
Police commissioner Kalmeshwar Singanevar stated on Friday that the police would strictly deal with errant VDCs.
VDCs had been formed in most villages in the district to oversee the development process. Several VDCs however acted beyond their brief. Setting aside the elected representatives like sarpanch, MPTC member and ZPTC members, some VDCs dominated their village affairs.
Where reserved community leaders were elected in local bodies, VDCs have specially been trying for supremacy. On the pretext of giving representation to all communities, VDCs dominate village affairs. To dictate their own rules, VDCs used social boycott as a weapon, the police commissioner said.
In one instance, VDC members imposed a social boycott on Munnuru Kapu families in Shapur village of Nandipet mandal. The VDC imposed a Rs 4 lakh penalty on a person, who allegedly violated the rules set by the VDC. The victim approached the police with a complaint. Following this, three members of the VDC were arrested and sent to judicial remand.
Ramannapet in Morthad mandal and the Velpur mandal headquarters also reported dominance of VDCs in village affairs. Police warned the VDCs against social boycotts and imposing of penalties.
Police warned that any attempt at subverting the democratic process in the villages will be thwarted and stern action taken against the errant VDCs and its members.
