Central team on Telangana begins work

The task force named by the central government to study security related issues following the decision to split Andhra Pradesh began its work here Tuesday by meeting police officials.

The task force headed by security advisor to central home ministry K. Vijaya Kumar arrived here Tuesday and began consultations with top police officials and former directors general of police.

Vijaya Kumar said the team would stay in Hyderabad for two to three days.

Vijaya Kumar, a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from Tamil Nadu, refused to comment on the bifurcation and related issues. "We have just arrived. We have nothing to say," he told reporters at the airport.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma, former commissioner A.K. Khan, former director general of police Aravinda Rao and other retired and serving IPS officers attended the meeting.

Speeding up the process for formation of Telangana state, the central government Monday set up the task force to study the law and order situation in the state, particularly in Hyderabad, in the post-bifurcation period.

The task force is likely to submit its report to the group of ministers set up by the home ministry to work out modalities for forming a separate Telangana state.

The panel is expected to go into various issues, especially law and order in Hyderabad in the next 10 years when it would be THE joint capital of Telangana and residuary state of Andhra Pradesh.

The people of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) living in Hyderabad have been demanding that their security concerns be addressed before the bifurcation.