Families of Andhra Pradesh Special Police constables withdrew their three-day agitation over lack of facilities following the death of a constable after director-general of police V. Dinesh Reddy assured them that police officials would be granted adequate leaves and have better work conditions.
The decision came after a delegation of the family members of APSP battalion constables met DGP Dinesh Reddy and other senior officers at the state police headquarters on Monday. The DGP asked APSP officers to hold monthly ‘family sabhas’ to enable family members to voice their opinion and grievances. It was also decided not to post APSP constables in remote areas, and to keep them in regions they belong.
The protests began on Saturday after an APSP Eighth Battalion constable, Phani Kumar, died at Addateegal in East Godavari district last week. Taking to the streets, wives of APSP constables claimed Phani died since he was not granted leave by highhanded officers. Assuaging fears of the families, DGP Dinesh Reddy on Monday ordered a probe into various decisions taken in the last few months related to APSP and asked additional director general Gautham Sawang to submit a report.
But he also told the family members that resorting to such dharnas and road blockades undermine the image of the police and warned that action would be taken if such protests recur in future. The DGP directed all district police heads not to initiate criminal action against the agitating family members, saying they were “misguided”. Assuring that they would not resort to such protests in future, the family members requested the DGP to also pardon their husbands.
Specifying that welfare of police personnel is top priority for the administration, DGP Dinesh Reddy said the Chief Minister has already taken steps to grant Rs 1 crore to the police welfare fund every year. He also assured the families about reimbursement of expenses for medical check-up twice a year for the entire force, providing a doctor for every unit hospital, and construction of a 50-bed super-specialty hospital at a cost of Rs 50 crore at First Battalion APSP. He said emulating the defence forces, canteens are being set up for state police personnel, where necessities would be sold at highly subsidised rates.
Meanwhile, AP Police Officers’ Association president Chalapathi Rao said, “The DGP has assured that reserve inspector Vinod, allegedly involved in creating problems for the lower rung, would be suspended.”