While the 13-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has started probe into post-poll violence incidents, political circles are now expressing apprehensions on the neutrality of this team in submitting a report, as most of its members were drawn from the former DGP KV Rajendranath Reddy’s team.
Rajendranath Reddy was removed as DGP by the Election Commission of India (ECI) due to his alleged proximity with the ruling YSRCP. Almost all the officers now facing allegations of responsibility for post- poll violence were picked up by him and posted in those places to serve the ruling party interests.
Though he was removed as DGP, Rajendranath Reddy is continuing as Director General of ACB. Among 13 SIT members as many as 9 were drawn from ACB, who are working under Reddy’s supervision. Now their assignment in the SIT is only a temporary one and they again need to work in ACB under Reddy.
So, the opposition leaders are doubting whether such SIT members are able to give a genuine report against erred officers, who were again picked up by Reddy earlier?
The main allegations are that most of DSPs and CIs, who were posted in sensitive areas and were picked up on the suggestion of local YCP leaders, were non-cooperative with the SPs and higher officials, but they acted like representatives of the local YCP MLAs.
They not only remained as spectators during attacks on TDP leaders, but also themselves actively involved in harassing them. In this exercise, DGP Rajendranath Reddy played a crucial role to safeguard the interests of the ruling party.
Particularly officers, who played key roles in spreading violence in Macherla, Tirupati and Tadikonda were picked up by Rajendranath Reddy. Moreover, ECI’s direction that SIT should submit its report in two days is also said to provide a `manufactured’ report by interested parties.
It may not be possible for SIT members to prepare a report in two days, if they do a sincere probe at field level and collect crucial evidences
The main responsibilities of the SIT are to review the investigation of the cases, apply the relevant sections if the cases are not registered under the correct sections, and include the details in the report if new cases have to be registered.
Senior officials are admitting that it will be to talk to the victims and know the real situation in this short time. Questions are being raised whether it will be possible to identify the real culprits if the report is submitted in haste?