Speakers at a recent round-table conference in Vijayawada expressed worry about the deteriorating law and order in Andhra Pradesh under the current coalition government. They highlighted issues such as attacks on women, political violence, false cases, custodial deaths, and limited space for democratic dissent, stating that democratic values and the rule of law are facing significant challenges.
Former ministers, retired officials, social activists, and legal experts at the conference called for a CBI probe into recent custodial death and suicide cases, citing concerns about evidence tampering and lack of trust in the state police. They emphasized the need for accountability at all levels of the police hierarchy and suggested independent investigations for custodial deaths.
Experts compared Andhra Pradesh’s law and order situation unfavorably to Bihar, noting that Bihar’s leadership has taken stronger actions against law violators. They criticized the politicization of the police, selective case registrations, attacks on opposition figures, and the increasing insecurity among various social groups in Andhra Pradesh.
The participants at the meeting expressed alarm over the erosion of constitutional safeguards, including the right to life and due process, and the failure of institutions to protect citizens from power abuse. They called for a detailed public report on the government’s law and order performance, documenting incidents of custodial deaths, violence against women, misuse of police authority, and violations of democratic rights.
