DGP says NHRC not final authority

Mr Ramudu was responding to questions regarding the NHRC recommending a CBI probe into the deaths of 20 illegal woodcutters deep in the Seshachalam forests in an encounter on April 7 with the state police and forest officials.

“Any commission can make any recommendation. Irrespective of this, we will follow competent authorities like the government and courts,” he said.

“Exchange of fire and deaths of smugglers have taken place at other times too, but the recent encounter is in focus due to the number of deaths,” Mr Ramudu said.

He said that around 100 red sanders smugglers, including international smugglers, have been identified and many of them arrested. Also, 8,650 persons involved in smuggling were arrested in the past year and 12,512 logs of red sanders weighing 240 tonnes seized.

The state police chief said that the CID in the state has been strengthened for curbing economic offences and assets worth '8,485 crore of the '10,902 crore swindled by fraudsters like Agri Gold, Akshaya Gold, Siri Gold and other such firms seized.

He said that Centre has according permission for four new IR Battalions and State Disaster Relief Force on lines of NDRF would be set up soon. Besides, two cyber police stations are being developed in Vijayawada and Vizag.

Expressing concern over the number of fatalities due to road accidents, Mr Ramudu said it was the biggest crime in the state, with over 25 persons dying in accidents each day. “Efforts are on to curb road accidents. As part of these efforts, the helmet rule will enforced from July,” Mr Ramudu said.

The DGP said that arrangements for the Godavari Pushkaralu were going on at brisk pace and CCTV cameras at 258 ghats in three districts would play a major role in averting mishaps during the fete.

Vijayawada police commissioner A.B. Venkateswara Rao, additional DGPs Gautham Sawang, D. Thirumala Rao, P. Surendra Babu, V.S.K. Kaumudi, R.P. Thakur, A.R. Anuradha and others were present.