Poll-violence in AP: SIT submits primary report, 1370 accused in 33 cases
VIJAYAWADA: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the election-related violence submitted its primary report to state DGP Harish Gupta on Monday.
SIT chief Vineet Brijlal handed over the report to the DGP. It cited 33 violence cases/incidents. The Chief Secretary, Chief Electoral Officer and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) will also receive copies of the report.
The report spread over 150 pages. The violence was mainly in three districts namely Palnadu, Tirupati and Anantapur.
The 33 cases were related to major incidents on the polling day and the next day. In the Palnadu district, 22 cases were listed in three Assembly constituencies within the jurisdiction of eight police stations. In Anantapur district, seven cases were identified in one Assembly constituency within the limits of one police station. In Tirupati, four cases were cited from two Assembly constituencies.
A total of 1,370 individuals were cited as accused in the FIRs. Among them, 124 were arrested and notices under Section 41-A of the Cr.P.C were issued to 94 accused. The SIT has advised the investigating officers to do the pending arrests at the earliest.
The SIT observed that many of these offences were of an extremely serious nature. Multitudes from rival groups audaciously participated in the offences, indiscriminately pelting stones.
The SIT listed numerous lapses in the investigations. As part of supervision, special teams were formed to identify and apprehend the accused at the district level. Investigating officers were asked to file a memo in courts for addition of appropriate sections of the law to the existing sections vis-a-vis various cases.
They are also advised to collect digital evidence such as CC footage, videos, etc, arrest the accused and file the chargesheet expeditiously.
During the field visits, the SIT received representations from various aggrieved persons and verified the facts.
The DGP has directed the district SPs concerned, deputy inspector general of Anantapur and inspector general of Guntur to take necessary action.
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- Total Cases: 33; accused cited: 1,370; accused identified: 731; accused to be identified: 639; arrested: 124; yet to be arrested: 1,152; 41 A notices served to: 94.
- Narsaraopeta constituency: Cases: 10; accused cited: 178; accused identified: 116; accused to be identified: 62; arrested: 0; yet to be arrested: 140; 41 A notices served to: 38.
- Macherla constituency: Cases: 8; accused cited: 296; accused identified: 51; accused to be identified: 245; arrested: 0; yet to be arrested: 267; 41 A notices served to: 29.
- Gurazala constituency: Cases: 4; accused cited: 107; accused identified: 107; accused to be identified: 0; arrested: 19; yet to be arrested: 64; 41 A notices served to: 24.
- Palnadu region: Cases: 22; accused cited: 581; accused identified: 274; accused to be identified: 307; arrested: 19; yet to be arrested: 471; 41 A notices served to: 91.
- Tirupati district: Cases: 4; accused cited: 61; accused identified: 61; accused to be identified: 0; arrested: 14; yet to be arrested: 47; 41 A notices served to: 0.
- Tadipatri constituency: Cases: 7; accused cited: 728; accused identified: 396; accused to be identified: 332; arrested: 91; yet to be arrested: 634; 41 A notices served to: 3.
