Violence unabated in AP; EC summons CS, DGP

The Election Commission of India, on Wednesday, took serious cognizance of the growing violent incidents in different parts of Andhra Pradesh even after two days of polling that concluded on Monday late night.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has summoned State Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy and Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta to New Delhi on Thursday to give a personal explanation as to why they allowed the law-and-order situation to go out of hand.
Several parts of Rayalaseema and Palnadu districts continued to witness violence for the third consecutive day on Wednesday. Incidents of violence were reported from Tadipatri in Anantapur district, Chandragiri in Tirupati district and Macherla and Narsaraopet in Palnadu district.
The EC has taken serious cognizance of the violent incidents and held discussions with the DGP. Senior police officials, along with additional police forces were rushed to the affected areas. Several leaders were put under house arrest and Section 144 was promulgated. Police pickets were set up in 715 places.
The EC directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to take all steps to curb the violence. “The two officials were asked to come to Delhi and personally explain the reasons for the failure of law and order and administrative machinery,” an official in the ECI said, adding that Rajiv Kumar is personally monitoring the situation.