VISAKHAPATNAM: Police of the five north coastal Andhra districts are making serious efforts to prevent government employees and teachers from attending the Millennium March scheduled to be held at Vijayawada on September 1.
They are collecting information about residential addresses of employees and teachers through ward secretariats and serving them notices under Cr. P.C. 149.
“As on Sunday, police have served notices to over 1,000 employees and their union representatives. In some cases, circle inspectors are even summoning union leaders of police stations and serving them notices,” pointed out a trade union leader requesting anonymity.
“Authorities have warned private bus operators and taxi owners not to carry employees to Vijayawada during the next three days,” disclosed another leader. He pointed out that special branch personnel are visiting homes of employees and warning them.
A school teacher disclosed that motorcycles and scooters of employees and teachers are being seized by police.
These are among the measures undertaken by police to prevent employees from organising a repeat of the massive rally that they organised against PRC in Vijayawada on February 3.
“We have learnt lessons from the February 3 rally. Hence, we are taking all steps to prevent the Millennium March,” confessed a police official.
Terming such attempts as repressive measures, CITU state president Ch. Narsinga Rao maintained that the government should permit peaceful rallies, as people have a right to voice their resentment.
“YSR government is digging its own grave by antagonising employees,” Narsinga Rao remarked.
