Visakhapatnam: In-charge director general of police (DGP) Nanduri Sambasiva Rao said that the police department, with the support of a few other departments, will organise awareness camps to help the pilgrims and to prevent untoward incidents during the upcoming Krishna Pushkaralu from August 12 to 23. Talking to newsmen after holding a review meeting with police officers of Vizag, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts here on Wednes-day, Mr Sambasiva Rao said that learning lessons from the past incidents (a stampede on the opening of the Godavari Pushka-ralu last year which claimed the life of 29 pilgrims), they will deploy over 24,000 police personnel for smooth conduct of the Krishna Pushkaralu.
Nearly three crore people are expected to attend Krishna Pushkaralu during the 12 days of the event and keeping in mind the stampede last years. Police has chalked out some plans to help the pilgrims, he added. Replying to a question, he said that technology will be used to crack the crimes. Maoists menace is also one of the major issues in the state and they are chalking out strategies to curb it in co-ordination with neighbouring states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, he added.
The DGP reviewed the various issues, including Maoists activities, law and order situation, ganja smuggling and coastal security and directed the police officers in the region to intensify the combing operations along Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) during the Maoist Martyrs Week (July 28 to August 2) to prevent untoward incidents. Sources said that the DGP and additional DG (Intelligence) undertook aerial survey along Vizag Agency and Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) to review the anti-Maoist operations. However, the DGP did not land in Vizag Agency due to bad weather.
