Central forces deployed in Seemandhra

HYDERABAD: Police across the state have been put on high alert following the Union Cabinet nod for Telangana state with 10 districts. Security has been tightened across Seemandhra where police anticipate protests.

Since Thursday evening, even as the Union Cabinet meeting commenced in Delhi, security was tightened outside the houses of ministers and other public representatives in the state. 'We are monitoring the situation closely. We are fully geared up to face everything,' said a senior police official.

Sources said DGP B Prasada Rao and additional DGP (law and order) VSK Kaumudi reviewed security arrangements with police officials, especially those in Seemandhra, while regular contact is being maintained between the state police and paramilitary forces like the CRPF.

'Total 25 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the region,' the official said.Meanwhile, an alert was sounded across the four Rayalaseema districts and the temple town of Tirupati.

Paramilitary forces conducted a flag march in the troubled Anantapur district while security had been beefed up at the residences of elected representatives of all political parties, anticipating trouble.

Government offices, both state and central, were provided security. Barbed wire fences were thrown around the statues of national leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi to prevent agitators from damaging them.

As Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde came out of the Cabinet meeting and announced the bifurcation decision, security forces came onto the roads in Chittoor. A tight vigil is kept near varsities like SV University in Tirupati and SK University in Anantapur.

Officials are anticipating trouble in Anantapur district, which witnessed largescale violence when the CWC announced bifurcation of the state in July this year. The paramilitary and additional forces of the state police, who are stationed in the district since then, were deployed at sensitive places.

An officer of deputy IG rank was been deputed to each district to oversee bandobust arrangements and movement of forces from one place to another.

'The police officers are asked to be alert and report any incident to the higher-officials,' Anantapur range DIG B Balakrishna told reporters in Anantapur.

With a new SP taking charge just two days ago, senior officers are monitoring the situation there personally.

In Kadapa, two companies of BSF and three companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF), apart from Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP) battalions and armed forces, were kept ready for deployment. Pulivendula, Proddutur, Rayachoti, Jammalamadugu and Kamalapuram have been identified as sensitive places and forces are put on alert at these places. Rayalaseema rance IG Rajiv Ratan reviewed the situation in the district. Prohibitory orders have been clamped across the district.

In Nellore, district superintendent of police PVS Ramakrishna met marine IG K Srinivasulu Reddy, who was deployed as special officer to the district and held discussions with him over the prevailing situation.

No additional forces would be called in as already two companies of Central forces are deployed since the Seemandra movement began in the district.

Security was tightened at the residences of MLAs, finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Rajya Sabha member M Venkaiah Naidu, and Congress and BJP party offices.

In Chittoor, paramilitary forces took positions in the town by night. According to sources, nearly five companies of paramilitary forces are likely to arrive by Friday and deployed at important places in the region, including Tirupati and Tirumala.