Police ready to meet any eventuality: Andhra Pradesh DGP

DGP, B Prasada rao, however, denied deployment of any additional forces so far

Director General of Police, B Prasada Rao, said the police force was prepared to meet any eventuality in the event of state’s bifurcation.

“We are fully geared up and alive to the situation,” he said talking to mediapersons here on Monday.

Rao, however, denied deployment of any additional forces so far. The quantum of police force to be deployed would depend upon the situation, he said.

Replying to a query, he declined to say whether there would be any escalation in the activities of extremists following the division of the state.

“We can’t predict like that. I will not say this way or that way,” he said, adding there were different perceptions on the issue. “Even in the united AP there are several attempts (extremists) to enter the state and commit offences.”

According to Rao, not only the Justice (retired) Srikrishna Committee, some political executives  and bureaucrats have also made some comments on the issue. “It is their perception,” he pointed out.

In the light of the recent attack on a woman at an ATM in Bangalore, he said security aspects of the ATMs in the state were also looked into. One idea being considered was to locate ATMs close to or in the premises of a police station.  

Regarding posting of a guard at every ATM, Rao said it could be a burden on the banks. “We have to balance between the commercial convenience and vulnerability to crime,” he emphasised.

According to Rao, the IT corridor in the city would soon have a control room. It has also been decided to increase the number of check points in the area.

Stating that police had a capacity to act as an agent of change, he said to improve police-public interface it had been decided to have a reception counter in each police station “where a civilian will be sitting.”