Tadipathri MLA Targets Rural Police Over Illegal Sand Mining Issue

Anantapur:Tadipathri MLA Asmith Reddy continued to target rural inspector Lakshmikantha Reddy as he allegedly ignored the legislator's calls to resist illicit sand mining from the rural limits of Pennar river.

The MLA staged a protest in Tadipathri on Tuesday but withdrew it after the inspector tendered an apology. The issue persisted on Wednesday while the inspector said he was firm on discharging his duties in a proper way.

The MLA took this as an insult and met the Anantapur SP Jagadish. He alleged that the inspector, instead of taking action against illicit sand transporters, was suppressing the complainants.

“We have been fighting against the illicit sand mining during the YSRC period and even handed over the lorries to police, but no cases were registered. Instead, the inspector was advising the complainants to compromise with the transporters,” he said.

The MLA urged the SP to form a special team to resist illicit sand transportation in Tadipathri as the TD cadres were lodging complaints for the past one month and no action was initiated.

It has been an embarrassing situation for the police department, especially for the district level officials, to set things right, irrespective of whether the YSRC or the TD-led alliance is in power. At least four SPs got transferred in the past few months after being unable to control the situation in Tadipathri, while the situation in the rest of the district was under control.

Notably, during the polling day violence, the Tadipathri DSP and police inspector were suspended and another former DSP had to face punitive action from the authorities.