Need for a stringent law to curb white-collar crime in AP: DGP J V Ramudu

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh DGP J V Ramudu on Tuesday said a proposal has been forwarded to state government for enacting a stringent law to curb "white-collar" crimes. "Considering the issue of white-collar offences in Andhra Pradesh, police department has sent a proposal to government for drafting a new and stringent law to curb white-collar crimes," Ramudu told reporters after attending a review meeting here.

White-collar crime generally refers to financially motivated non-violent crime committed by business and government professionals. The top cop said that local police will rope in technology for regulation of traffic in the coastal city and to tackle crime against women.

Visakhapatnam is listed as one of the 100 'smart cities' across the country, which the Centre is planning to develop. "We would rope in top IT companies and best colleges in the city to study and design a technology to address the traffic problem and also for security of women. A pilot project will be put to test in a couple of months," he said.

The DGP said a proposal seeking recruitment of about 8,000 constables has already been sent to state government. He said police department has identified three places, including Vizag, for setting up training centres for elite Octopus and Greyhounds, and a formal request has been placed before government.

Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS) is the counter terrorism unit of Andhra Pradesh while the Greyhounds are a commando force created to combat Left Wing extremists.

"A (training) centre for Rapid Action Force will be set up on the outskirts of city near Lankelapalem," he said. Responding to a query the DGP denied that Vizag was on the radar of terrorists.