Amaravati, Oct 23 Forty-five incidents involving violence, clashes and destruction of nomination papers were reported across Andhra Pradesh during two days of nominations for local body polls, a senior police official said on Friday.
Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta said 14 incidents were reported across eight districts on Friday, taking the total over the two days to 45.
Palnadu and Kadapa reported three incidents each, Anantapur and Nellore two each, while Tirupati, Kurnool, Annamayya and Markapuram reported one each.
On Thursday (October 22), 31 incidents were reported across 13 districts. Of these, 22 involved violence, clashes or public-order disturbances, while nine involved nomination papers being snatched or torn.
Anantapur district reported eight incidents, followed by Annamayya, Kadapa, Prakasam and Tirupati with three each. Chittoor, Sri Sathya Sai and Palnadu reported two each, while Nellore, Kurnool, Markapuram, Nandyal and Eluru reported one each.
Across the state, 16 instances of nomination papers being snatched, torn or destroyed were recorded. Six incidents involved stones being hurled or attacks with stones and sticks, while four vehicles, including two cars and two motorcycles, were set on fire.
Two residential houses were attacked or damaged, with one demolished using an earth-mover. One incident of firing in the air was reported, while three incidents involved 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 TDP, YSRCP and CPI(M), as well as an independent candidate, were among those targeted during the nomination process.
Police registered 16 cases, including counter-cases, while the process of registering cases relating to 11 other incidents was underway.
Four persons were apprehended on the spot, and at least 54 people were named as accused.
Preventive action under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was taken against two persons. Police resorted to lathi-charge on three occasions and fired two tear-gas shells to disperse a mob.
In the incidents reported on Friday, 17 persons have so far been identified as accused, with investigations underway to identify others involved.
Gupta directed police officers to strictly enforce regulations governing election campaigning, including meetings, rallies, processions, vehicle movements and the use of loudspeakers. Organisers must comply with permitted timings, routes and conditions governing crowd management, traffic, sound limits and public safety.
The DGP clarified that preventive bind-over proceedings are intended to prevent breaches of peace and must not be used to obstruct lawful participation in elections. Political affiliation or an intention to contest elections alone does not constitute grounds for such action.
Proceedings under Sections 126 and, where applicable, 129 of the BNSS must be supported by specific information and sufficient legal grounds, the press note said. A lawful peace bond does not, by itself, disqualify a person from contesting or participating in elections.
Police are examining CCTV recordings, drone footage, body-worn camera recordings, videography from nomination centres and footage received from the media and the public to identify those involved.
The DGP warned that organisers and instigators who directed attacks, arranged unlawful obstruction, supplied material for violence or abetted offences would also face action if their involvement was established through evidence.
He directed police officers to register cases promptly, make arrests wherever warranted by law and pursue investigations. Officers would also face scrutiny for delayed intervention, selective enforcement or supervisory failures.
All Superintendents of Police and Commissioners of Police were directed to identify and arrest offenders and deploy additional forces at sensitive nomination centres and villages.
The DGP urged political leaders and candidates to ensure that their supporters followed lawful police directions. He asked citizens to report threats or obstruction, stating that peaceful electoral participation would be protected and that violence, intimidation and organised obstruction would invite stringent action.
(PTI News)
