Hyderabad police chief warns against violent protests

HYDERABAD: In view of the ongoing protests by the employees at government offices in the city, Hyderabad police commissioner Anurag Sharma has warned that criminal cases would be registered against employees who resort to violence as also those who try to enter office premises to provoke the protesting staff.
While reiterating that the police would not intervene as long as protests are held in a peaceful and democratic manner, the police commissioner on Tuesday appealed to the Seemandhra and Telangana employees to schedule their protests at different times to avoid animosity.
"We have already arranged police pickets at important government offices in the city to deal with any kind of situation. Political leaders are strictly prohibited from entering the premises of any government office. Henceforth, we will register specific cases against anyone trying to create law and order problems by provoking employees," Anurag Sharma said at a media conference.
On Tuesday afternoon, police took BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy into custody near Vidyut Soudha when he tried to enter the premises to express solidarity with the protesting Telangana employees. The legislator was later released on a personal bond.
The commissioner said that they had received a written request from APNGOs to hold a meeting at LB Sstadium on September 7. "Based on the developing law and order situation, an appropriate decision will be taken soon," the city police chief said.
Anurag Sharma also said that police would examine the video footage of the alleged provocative speech made by APNGO association president P Ashok Babu. Based on the findings, an appropriate legal action would be initiated, he said.