AP govt gears for aftershocks of Srikrishna report

Chairing a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy asked his colleagues to refrain from making provocative statements till the Centre  announces a decision on the  contentious issue of the bifurcation of the state.

“I know about your stand  on the Telangana issue. But, I request you all to remain committed to party and government stand on the issue till a definite announcement is made from  Delhi. Please do not make any public statements on the aftermath of the Srikrishna committee report,” the chief minister told the ministers.

The chief minister reviewed the law and order situation with Home Minister P  Sabita Indra Reddy, Director-General of Police Aravinda Rao and other senior officials.

Security was tightened in the state on Thursday. Fifty companies of central paramilitary forces, including the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force and the Central Industrial Force, have been deployed in the state in addition to the state police, especially in Telangana. Twenty-five companies of BSF have been deployed at all crucial centres in the state capital, including secretariat and assembly.

Over 200 CCTVs have been set up in the IT corridor on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Out of the 18 companies deployed in Hyderabad, five companies will provide security in Cyberabad, the IT district housing many global and national giants. Two more companies will be on standby at the office of the DGP.

The remaining paramilitary forces were also deployed in Andhra and Rayalseema regions. Two companies were deployed in Visakhapatnam rural, and one each in Anantapur, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam city, Vijayawada and Guntur.

The Centre has asked the media to exercise restraint in telecasting stories relating to the report. The information and broadcasting ministry has urged the media not to carry speculative stories which may lead to untoward incidents.