New Delhi, May 17, 2024 – The Election Commission of India (ECI) has mandated the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the recent post-poll violence in Andhra Pradesh. The SIT will be responsible for submitting action taken reports to the ECI for each case of violence, ensuring that FIRs are updated with the appropriate IPC sections and other relevant statutory provisions.
Chief Secretary K. S. Jawahar Reddy and Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta appeared before Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and two other election commissioners on Thursday to discuss the administration’s failure to contain the violence following the May 13 polling.
Several violent incidents were reported in the Anantapur, Palnadu, and Tirupati districts during and after the polling. The ECI had summoned the top officials to explain the reasons behind this administrative lapse. Both the Chief Secretary and the DGP attributed the violence to negligence and lack of supervision by officials in the affected districts.
Following their assessment, the Election Commission took stringent actions against 16 officials. Palnadu Superintendent of Police (SP) Garikapati Bindu Madhav and Anantapur SP Amit Bardar were suspended. Additionally, the Commission ordered the transfer of Palnadu district collector Siva Sankar Lotheti and Tirupati SP Krishnakanth Patel. Departmental enquiries have been initiated against these officials.
Bindu Madhav had only recently taken charge of Palnadu district as SP, replacing Y. Ravi Shankar Reddy after the latter’s transfer by the Election Commission. Similarly, Krishnakanth Patel assumed his role as Tirupati SP just two months ago.
The state government’s report to the ECI highlighted the officials’ failure to prevent violence despite prior warnings and a history of political unrest in these districts. The Election Commission also suspended 12 subordinate police officials across Palnadu, Anantapur, and Tirupati districts.
The suspended officers in Tirupati include DSP A. Surender Reddy, Special Branch Inspector K. Rajashekhar, Special Branch DSP Bhaskar Reddy, and Alipiri Inspector Ramachandra Reddy. In Palnadu, Narasaraopet DSP VSN Varma, Gurazala DSP A. Pallapu Raju, Inspectors K. Prabhakar Rao, E. Bala Nagi Reddy, Karempudi SI Ramanjaneyulu, and Nagarjuna Sagar SI DV Kondareddy faced suspension. Tadipatri DSP C. M. Gangaiah and Tadipatri Inspector Murali Krishna were suspended in Anantapur district.
The poll panel has directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to ensure such violence is not repeated. All Superintendents of Police (SPs) in the state are tasked with implementing pre-emptive measures to prevent future incidents.
Additionally, the state government requested the retention of 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for 15 days post-counting to manage any potential violence following the election results. The Commission has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to comply with this request.
Pre-poll incidents of violence, including assaults, arson, threats, and vandalism, were reported predominantly in the districts of Annamaya, Chittoor, Palnadu, and to a lesser extent in Guntur, Anantapur, and Nandyal.
The Election Commission’s decisive actions underscore its commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring a fair electoral process in Andhra Pradesh.
