Telangana report: AP police prepared to face any eventuality

"Whatever may be the type of agitation or violence... we have to be prepared. The preparedness comes from our experience last year (during pro-Telangana and United Andhra Pradesh protests)," State Director General of Police K Arvinda Rao told reporters at the annual press meet-2010 here.

He said apart from personnel of AP Police Force, 50 companies of central para-military forces comprising CRPF, BSF and CISF personnel have been deployed in all the three regions of Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema of the state.

"We are concentrating on those areas where more number of cases were reported. The degree of provocation and level of violence are the indicators for the deployment of forces in these regions including the state capital," Rao said.

The DGP further said they are sensitising paramilitary forces on the (statehood) issue in Andhra Pradesh and, with regard to usage of less lethal weapons and to maintain restraint against protesters.

He said the police has already procured non-lethal weapons and is in the process of purchasing more.

Reacting to a query on withdrawal of cases registered against students involved in pro and anti-statehood agitation, the officer said the complete process (on withdrawal) will take about a month time considering the legal aspects.

The five-member Srikrishna Committee today submitted its report on the separate Telangana state demand to Home Minister P Chidambaram, who said government will consult all political parties before taking an "appropriate" decision on the issue.

The two-volume report, prepared by the Committee after extensive discussions with political parties and other organisations in the state over the past 11 months, was submitted a day before the Committee's term was to expire.