Police chief talks tough on ‘rail roko’ agitation

Withdraw the call or face action, sponsors told

DGP V. Dinesh Reddy on Thursday made it clear that there was no question of allowing ‘rail roko’ as part of the ongoing agitation in coastal and Rayalaseema districts. Non-bailable cases would be booked against those participating in the programme.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Dinesh Reddy said rallies in support of integrated State or Telangana in the State capital would not be allowed at all.

He asked the sponsors of ‘rail roko’ to withdraw their call or else the police would take stringent steps identifying the participants on the basis of video clippings.

“There will be 100 per cent video coverage of railway stations and tracks. And there will also be an aerial survey.” Recalling a SC direction not permitting rail roko at any cost, Mr. Reddy said it was on the basis of court ruling that the police acted tough against a similar programme in Telangana in the past. The same norm would be applied this time in a counter agitation. Police had taken the call seriously and he had himself held consultations with the SCR General Manager, chief operations manager and chief security commissioner.

The Additional DGP in charge of railways would be stationed in Vijayawada to enforce the proposed steps, he added. He said the police would permit democratic forms of protest to highlight grievances but not something that infringed the rights of others.

Holding up train traffic fell into the category of infringement because it led to suffering to passengers, including the aged.

NGOs’ protest

Referring to the picketing of government offices by non-gazetted staff, Mr. Reddy warned that there was little difference in the programme with ‘wrongful restraint’ which attracted criminal action. There was also the danger of anti-social elements penetrating into the mob to create lawlessness.

On the preparedness of police to tackle the agitations, Mr. Reddy said 55 companies of Central paramilitary forces were deployed for the purpose. Police did not enter the Secretariat to deal with protests in the absence of any request from the Chief Secretary or the Principal Secretary (Political).