Andhra Pradesh recorded 31 election-related incidents, including clashes, attacks and the destruction of nomination papers, during the local body poll nomination process across 13 districts on Thursday, state Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta said in an official release.
The DGP said 22 incidents involved violence, clashes or public-order disturbances, while nine related to nomination papers being snatched or torn. Police recorded 16 cases in which nomination papers were taken, damaged or destroyed, including incidents at Mandal Parishad office gates, nomination centres and a Returning Officer’s office.
Anantapur reported the highest number of incidents at eight. Annamayya, Kadapa, Prakasam and Tirupati recorded three each, while Chittoor, Sri Sathya Sai and Palnadu reported two each. Five other districts reported one incident each.
The police account included six incidents involving stones or attacks with stones and sticks, four vehicles being set on fire and attacks on two residential houses. One house was demolished using an earth-mover. Police also reported one instance of firing in the air and three incidents involving road blockades, sit-ins or traffic obstruction.
A police vehicle escorting three candidates to a nomination centre was attacked with stones, leaving a constable with a grievous head injury. Two people, including a contesting candidate, sustained serious injuries, while several others were injured in three clashes. Candidates belonging to the Telugu Desam Party, YSR Congress Party and Communist Party of India (Marxist), as well as an independent candidate, were among those targeted, according to the police.
Police have registered 16 cases, while cases relating to 11 other incidents were being registered. Four people were apprehended at the spot and at least 54 people were named as accused. Preventive action under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was taken against two people.
Police resorted to lathi-charge on three occasions and fired two tear-gas shells to disperse a mob. Investigators are examining video recordings, closed-circuit television footage and photographs to identify additional people involved. The police said the number of accused could increase as investigations progress.
Gupta said legal action would be taken against those involved, irrespective of their political affiliation. The provisions cited by the police include sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to causing hurt, wrongful restraint, assault on public servants, unlawful assembly, rioting, election-related undue influence, disobedience of orders, mischief and criminal trespass.
The DGP also warned that organisers and instigators would face action if their involvement was established. Carrying weapons near nomination centres, polling stations or election gatherings would invite prosecution, the police said. People involved in the incidents, including those with a history of election violence, could face preventive proceedings and binding-over action, while history-sheets would be opened wherever justified.
All Superintendents of Police and Commissioners of Police have been directed to register pending cases without delay, identify and arrest offenders, and deploy additional forces at sensitive nomination centres and villages.
