What the government and public representatives could not do in nearly two decades, the police achieved in three months.
Residents of Danampally, located nearly 80 km from Hyderabad, wanted a four kilometre road connecting it to Devuni Narmetta village of Nangunuru mandal restored. With no one taking care of it, the mud road shrunk with rain-fed shrubs and trees coming up on either side.
It had become so narrow, in fact, that the residents were scared to use it during the night. “From officers to legislators, we had been pleading for years to widen and re-lay the road,” M. Mallesh, son of village sarpanch Chandravva, said.
Every officer and legislator would assure the villagers of laying the road within a few weeks. However, years had passed since.
About three months ago, Cheryal Inspector Chandrashekhar and Sub-Inspector Laxman Rao, along with Village Police Officer Janardhan, visited the village. “Our personnel went to Danampally to find out how many cases were pending and if they could make the village crime free by persuading the complainant and accused to settle the matter,” Siddipet Police Commissioner Siva Kumar said.
Two police cases
There were only two cases — one filed under the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act and another of outraging a woman’s modesty. The accused and the victims agreed to resolve the issue but told the police officials that their biggest concern was the road that connects the village to Devuni Narmetta.
The police personnel met the Commissioner and appraised him of the villagers’ request. With the help of contractors, they brought in excavators and started clearing the road.
It took them seven days to widen the 4km road. Janagaon MLA M. Yadagiri Reddy appreciated the work taken up the police and has promised to arranged funds to lay a bitumen top road connecting the two villages.
Once the BT road is laid, it would reduce the distance to Hyderabad by nearly 20 km. “We have to go to Siddipet now to reach Hyderabad. If a permanent road is laid, RTC Husnabad depot has agreed to ply buses to Hyderabad through our villages,” Mr. Mallesh said.
