Police initiates stern measures to curb violence : AP DGP

Hyderabad, Oct 29 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) M A Basith today claimed stringent measures, taken by the police department, had significantly brought down the extremist violence as compared to last year in the State.

Talking to newspersons here, he said 34 people, including three policemen, died in the naxal violence this year, as against 139 last year. The rate of attacks on police stations had also been reduced because of the 'pro-active methodology' adopted by the police to curb the extremism, he added.

Mr Basith said, except the Maoist attack on former Chief Minister N Janardhan Reddy, who escaped unhurt at Nellore recently, there was no major attack by the Naxals. 735 Naxals were arrested, 201 weapons recovered this year and the total number of Naxals, who surrendered before the police were 181.

Police was carrying out patrolling on border areas of the State to prevent mobilisation of Naxals from the naxal-infested areas, he said, adding however, social crimes like rapes, offences on women and deaths had increased in the State this year.

The DGP said new technologies were being adopted to take up 'hitech- policing' in the State by installing broadband services and computer network in all police stations in future.

In an effort to strengthen the police department, more than 30,000 vacancies would be filled in the next three years. The total expenditure incurred to the Government would be around Rs 855 crore every year for the purpose.

UNI