Two notorious history- sheeters were today arrested under a stringent law and sent to jail, police said.
Pothina Ramana (47) and Dhoni Satish (20) were booked under the Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Dacoits, Drug Offenders, Gundas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Land Grabbers Act, 1986 (popularly known as PD Act) and later sent to Central Jail in the city, they said.
The arrests came after Ramana struck fear among residents of PM Palem and Madhurawada areas with his criminal activities, particularly land grabs, while Satish is facing a slew of criminal cases, including attempt to murder.
Police have invoked the PD Act after a gap of nearly four years to send a strong message to land grabbers and history-sheeters, sources said.
Addressing the media, DCP (Law and Order, Zone-II) C M Trivikram Varma said Ramana was involved in 14 land grabbing cases since 2004 and was a habitual offender.
Satish, a resident of Kakara Veedhi area, was involved in around eight criminal cases since 2013, which included theft and attempt to murder.
More arrests are likely under the PD Act, police said, adding they have identified 12 prominent land grabbers and 320 rowdy-sheeters and process is on to invoke the tough law against them.
Under the Act, repeat offenders in various crimes are sent to jail for a period of six months. On completion of three months, an advisory board reviews their activities and cases against them and decides on extending their detention.
DCPs T Ravi Kumar Murthy and G Ram Gopal Naik said the cops have been making efforts to bring about the change in the mindset of rowdy-sheeters by organising counselling session for them.
