Hyderabad: On Wednesday, B Shivadhar Reddy took charge as the new Director General of Police (DGP) and announced plans to ensure a smooth local body election in the state. He emphasized that the police are prepared to maintain peace across all villages during the elections. Special forces will be stationed in areas considered sensitive, and increased police presence will be seen in the Jubilee Hills Assembly area due to an upcoming byelection.
When asked about the possibility of using the Preventive Detention Act against individuals posting controversial social media content, Reddy stated he would verify the reports. However, he assured that action will be taken against those engaging in online character defamation. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the Constitution, noting, “There is no blue book or red book. We have only Khaki book.”
Reddy urged members of the CPI (Maoist) to surrender, dismissing the idea of negotiations. He claimed there is minimal Maoist activity in Telangana, mostly limited to border areas. “Without a real problem, there’s no need for talks. We encourage them to surrender,” he declared. The DGP assured that surrendering Naxals would not face harassment and would receive help.
Responding to comments by Maoist spokesman Jagan, who criticized a senior leader’s suggestion to disarm, Reddy stated that internal disputes among Maoists are futile. He encouraged them to surrender and contribute to development, highlighting that “state power is larger.”
Reddy also mentioned that the police department has identified 17,000 job vacancies. Plans are underway to fill these positions and bolster basic policing with advanced technology.
