We can take on Maoists, says DGP

Police force on alert to thwart attempts by any outfit to disturb New Year celebrations, says Anurag Sharma. A fresh initiative of ‘Operation Smile’ was being launched to trace missing children.

Telangana State DGP Anurag Sharma during annual press meet at DGP office in Hyderabad on Monday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

Telangana police are all geared up to tackle Maoists and the challenges thrown by the latter would be tackled effectively, asserted DGP Anurag Sharma on Monday.

Describing the attack on some people by Maoists in the interior village of Mukunur in Karimnagar district three days ago as “local” in nature, he said, the State police is equipped to meet any situation and ensure law and order.

“A few Maoist squads from the neighbouring State of Chhattisgarh come to fringe areas of Karimnagar, create some trouble and go back,” the DGP said.

Replying to a question at the year-end press conference, he said the violent incident in Karimnagar cannot be viewed as an attempt by the Left-wing extremists for resurgence in the State. Special police parties had rushed to Satyanarayanapuram in Cherla mandal of Khammam district after Maoists blew up a mobile phone service tower. Even Greyhounds teams were sent there and combined searches were on to nab the Maoists, he said.

Accidents

Overall crime rate and road accident fatalities in the State had come down, the DGP said. However, cases of outraging modesty of women and rapes had gone up in 2014 compared to the previous years. Rapes witnessed an alarming 14 per cent spurt over the previous year. But the total crimes against women dipped, he claimed.

Cyber crimes had nearly doubled by reaching the figure of 618 compared to 334 cases registered last year. An alarming 57.86 per cent growth was reported in cases registered under the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act. While the year 2014 witnessed 442 cases, last year 280 cases were booked.

Cases of ragging also rose from one in 2013 to five in 2014. The DGP said the Telangana police had unveiled scores of new measures to enhance quality of policing and boost morale of policemen. While the Government sanctioned Rs. 312 crore for procuring new vehicles for police department, new proposals like mobile phones for all constables were mooted.

‘Operation Smile’

A fresh initiative of ‘Operation Smile’ was being launched to trace missing children.

Meanwhile, the entire police force will be on alert to thwart attempts by any outfit to disturb New Year celebrations. There are no specific inputs but the police are prepared to meet any eventuality and is taking all steps to avert such plots, the DGP said.