Araku Valley killing: High alert in Andhra Pradesh

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reviews situation after the murder of two TDP leaders

The police sounded a high alert in Andhra Pradesh and on the State borders following the killing of Araku MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao and former MLA Siveri Soma on Sunday.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was on the U.S. trip, called Visakhapatnam Collector and SP over the phone and enquired about the incident. He reviewed the situation and directed the officials to take measures to maintain law and order.

Additional DG (Law and Order) and in-charge DGP Harish Kumar Gupta rushed to Visakhapatnam and reviewed the situation. Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar directed the Collectors and the SPs to provide protection for the public representatives attending Grama Darshini.

Public representatives who were in the Maoists’ hit list were asked not to go into Naxal-dominated areas without giving prior notice to the police. The Vizianagaram and the Srikakulam police officials asked all public representatives to inform the nearby police stations their programmes and visits. Vizianagaram SP G. Pala Raju reviewed the security of the public representatives. His office said the department had beefed up the security along the AP-Odisha border and intensified combing operations.

Srikakulam SP CM Thrivikram Varma also reviewed the situation along the border of the district. All the vehicles moving on the AP-Odisha routes were being checked at various places including Gummalakshmipuram, Komarada, Salur, Sithampet and other places.