Are the hands of the officials tied in the State? The answer is yes, going by the series of incidents in which government officials and their staff were attacked at different places in Andhra Pradesh in the last few months.
A Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO), a Forest Range Officer (FRO), a Sub-Inspector (SI) of Police Department, a Labour Officer and other staff were among the victims. However, cases were booked against the accused only in a few incidents and the culprits were moving about free in other cases.
Interestingly, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu repeatedly said that there was no scope for rowdyism in the State and warned that rowdies would be externed. Officials, however, said that there were no pressures from any side and government gave a free hand in taking action against those involved in the attacks.
The attack on Musunuru MRO D. Vanajakshi, Agiripalli SI Rajendra Prasad and a Forest Range Officer in Krishna district and assault on police officials in Tuni incident created unrest among officials.
Kolleru incident
Hundreds of villagers of Komatilanka and other hamlets supported by a political party attacked Forest Department staff when the latter tried to prevent road-laying works in the Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary. Forest officials said that any construction activity in the sanctuary was banned as it would disturb birds in the sanctuary.
Even as the Forest officials approached police, no case was registered. Many employees locked their offices and went on leave stating that there was no security for their lives in Kolleru division.
A few months ago, Ms. Vanajakshi was attacked by villagers in the presence of an MLA when she tried to prevent sand smuggling on the Krishna-West Godavari borders.
There were many incidents of sand smugglers and rowdies attacking Revenue Inspectors and Village Revenue Officers while discharging their duties.
In Vijayawada, TDP floor leader G. Hari Babu attacked home guard Nagaraju at the Kanakadurga temple and a ruling party activist attacked an SI when the officer was trying to save a corporator from flames while burning an effigy.
Rowdy-sheeters attacked an SI and two constables when they asked particulars of the rowdies.
The Krishna district police booked cases on 10 accused and the remaining are at large. A few months ago, youth attacked the gunman of a police officer while returning home after discharging duty in Vijayawada.
Tuni arson
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) police announced that more than 400 accused involved in Tuni arson were identified, but only seven were arrested even after four months. The Labour Department and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members allege that they were receiving threatening calls in cases relating to rescuing child labour and sexual harassment.
TDP activists removed the compound wall of a government department at Gollapudi in Vijayawada recently. Police registered a case only on the directive of a top police officer to take action against the accused.
However, the Employees’ Association responded only in a few incidents for namesake and no public representative reacted over the attacks on government officials.
