PA Police don’t want another ‘Chalo Vijayawada’, take action to curb millennium march

Amaravati: All eyes are on the Millennium March organized by the Association of Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) Employees of Andhra Pradesh on September 1 to demand the withdrawal of CPS. State police, worried that the march will be a success like “Chalo Vijayawada” in February, take steps to stop the Millennium March.

Government employees demanded the reinstatement of the old pension scheme as promised by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy during his padayatra. When their demands remained satisfied after several representations and meetings, the employees launched an appeal for the “Millennium March”. State teachers said they will lay siege to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s residence in Tadepalli on September 1.

Ganesh Chaturthi: An easy way to enter the city

Prior to the millennium march, Vijayawada police carried out spot checks at all hotels and lodges in the city. Police have asked lodge owners not to assign rooms without checking people’s ID cards. More than 5,000 police officers are deployed to patrol and watch over the city.

But the Ganesh Chaturthi holiday on August 31 is a good opportunity for protesters to enter the city. In February, employees were due to come two days before for Chalo Vijayawada, but on Wednesday the rush for the festival is likely to give the police a hard time carrying out checks. Police deployed personnel at train stations, bus stations and toll booths to identify protesters.

Notice to employee union

Andhra Pradesh Police have started issuing notices under CrPC 149 to teachers unions across the state asking them not to visit Vijayawada for the millennium march. They also warned private bus operators and taxi owners not to transport employees to Vijayawada for the next three days. “Some of our teachers have been warned not to leave their homes until September 1 and their two-wheelers have been seized. A few have also received summonses and police teams are moving through our residential areas,” said said a teacher from Guntur.

Meanwhile, the facial recognition system app being introduced for state teachers is likely to be a way to identify those attending the march.

No permission to walk

All police units in the district have been instructed to prevent employees from entering Vijayawada town for the march. NTR District Police Commissioner Kanthi Rana Tata said Section 144 of the CrPC and Section 30 of the Police Act will be imposed in the city on September 1. Prior to the march, anyone caught acting suspiciously will be remanded in custody.

“Intelligence reports indicate that anti-social forces plan to create unrest on September 1. Action under Sections 143, 427, 283, 341, 506, 120(B) R/W 149 of the ICC will be taken against those who are taking part in the march,” a policeman said.