ANDHRA PRADESH DGP CLAIMS IMPARTIALITY IN TELANGANA AGITATION

NATURAL WITH ENGLISH SPEECH

DURATION: 3.03

SOURCE: ANI

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India’s southern state’s top cop says police officers acted fair during an agitation.

India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state’s top cop says his officers acted fairly while quelling an agitation for a separate state.

SHOWS:

HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (DECEMBER 28, 2009) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)

1. R R GIRISH, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, SOUTHERN ANDHRA PRADESH STATE, ENTERING

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) R R GIRISH, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, ANDHRA PRADESH SAYING:”I would like to emphasize that police officers including the IPS (Indian police services), we owe allegiance to the Constitution and the rule of law and nothing else, certainly it would be our endeavour to act with impartiality without any bias and would be neutral no matter what happens.”

3. REPORTERS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) R R GIRISH, DGP,SAYING: “I would like to emphasize that police has been handling the agitation exhibiting utmost restraint in dealing with the agitation.”

HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (DECEMBER 28, 2009) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)

5. SEPARATE STATE PROTESTORS DEMONSTRATING

6. AGITATORS SLOGANEERING

7. PROTESTORS CONFRONTING THE POLICE

8. DEMONSTRATIONS IN PROGRESS

9. AGITATORS PROTESTING

10. POLICE RESTRAINING THE PROTESTORS

11. DEMONSTRATORS SLOGANEERING

12. WOMEN AGITATORS RAISING SLOGANS

13. DEMONSTRATORS WITH BLINDFOLDS SLOGANEERING

14. DEMONSTRATORS WITH BLINDFOLDS

15. AN INJURED DEMONSTRATORS BEING CARRIED AWAY TO SAFETY

16. POLICE PERSONNEL CARRYING INJURED PROTESTORS

17. ANOTHER INJURED PROTESTOR BEING CARRIED IN A VAN

18. POLICE CARRYING AN INJURED PROTESTOR

STORY: Director General of police (DGP), of India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state Monday (December 28) said the police was dealing with the law and order crisis in the wake of pro- and anti-separate state demonstrations with utmost restraint and impartiality.

“I would like to emphasize that police officers including the IPS (Indian police services), we owe allegiance to the Constitution and the rule of law and nothing else, certainly it would be our endeavour to act with impartiality without any bias and would be neutral no matter what happens.” R.R Girish, director general of police (DGP) told reporters in the state’s capital, Hyderabad.

Pro-separate state protestors and political leaders accused the police of being biased and playing second fiddle to the political forces opposing the formation of the separate state.

Telangana state autonomy row has engulfed many regions of the state.

Telangana region comprises over 10 northern districts of Andhra Pradesh state.

Leaders of federal ruling Congress party had earlier said that the government wanted to respect the sentiments of the people of Telangana, who have been demanding statehood for a long time.

Political analysts feel that the creation of the new state of Telangana may fuel social unrest and separatist demands in other states.

Several regions of India have already been demanding autonomy for better governance, such as Vidarbha, Kamtapur, and Gorkhaland.