Food adulterators, drug peddlers under watch: Mahesh Bhagwat

Rachakonda Police Commissioner promises to eradicate organised crime in the city

Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat vowed to eradicate organised crime in the city. Construction of a new Rachakonda Commissionerate will start at a 10-acre plot located near VM Home in Saroornagar, once the State government issues the order.

The Rachakonda top cop had won a rare honour from the US State Department in June 2017. He was awarded the title ‘Real Hero’ for his 13-year-long work against labour and human trafficking. While talking to media personnel at Meet the Press programme organised at the Hyderabad Press Club, Mr. Bhagawat said the police will bring to book all offenders, even those high rungs, who indulge in organised crimes including food adulteration, human trafficking and gambling.

Emphasising on women’s safety, Mr. Bhagwat said in addition to instilling confidence among women by addressing their complaints through SHE teams, Rachakonda police has also roped in 144 girl students from 74 colleges as representatives of ‘She for Her’ programme. The police trained students would help their peers studying in colleges.

As part of the crackdown against prostitution rackets operating in the city, 45 brothels were closed down and 155 women were rescued. “Operation of brothels has almost come to an end in Rachakonda and house owners are now collecting details of tenants before renting them the property,” he said. The Rachakonda CP also spoke about security arrangements to be made at Yadagirigutta temple and the construction of Commissionerate headquarters building. Mr. Bhagwat said all the vehicles going to Yadagirigutta temple will be scanned.

In the wake of arrests of drug peddlers in Hyderabad, parents had made representation to him, the Commissioner said. “Recently some worried parents wanted the police to keep a watch at their children’s school surroundings for drug peddlers. They were worried because their children woke up late each morning. I advise the parents to not worry unnecessarily. Parents have to spend time with the children and keep a watch on their Internet browsing, cell phone usage and TV viewing habits. Rachakonda police are also keeping a watch on suspects,” Mr. Bhagwat said. The commissioner of police said the ganja peddlers are bringing the contraband from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad to transport it to other parts of the country.

“We have made proposals to evoke PD Act against food adulterators, sellers of spurious seeds and drug peddlers,” the CP said. People can contact Rachakonda police to inform about crime at 9490617111. Since rural areas fall under Rachakonda Commissionerate, which is the biggest in the country, his officers have been organising awareness programmes to stop child marriages and crime related to superstitions and black magic.