Congress leader's phone tapping charge baseless: Telangana DGP

Hyderabad, Oct 25 (IANS) Telangana's Director General of Police, M. Mahender Reddy on Monday dismissed the allegations by state Congress chief A. Revanth Reddy that phones of the police chief and ministers are being tapped.

The DGP clarified that allegations with regard to tapping of phones of DGP and those of ministers and groupism within the department are absolutely baseless and defamatory in nature.

The Telangana police department has been taking all necessary measures as per the provisions of law for prevention of crime, detection of crime and maintenance of public order and peace, the DGP said in a statement.

The Central Government has issued regulations and guidelines with regard to interception of phones under the Indian Telegraph Act. The department has been strictly adhering to these guidelines, while taking measures for prevention of crime and maintenance of public order and peace in public interest, Mahender Reddy said while reacting to the allegations made by Revanth Reddy, who is also a member of Lok Sabha.

He also stated that the officers of all wings of Telangana Police Department have been working in absolute cohesion with team work. "There are no groups within the department as has been alleged. The postings and placements of the personnel in various wings of the Police Department are done as per the job needs and based on merits," he said.

Mahender Reddy said it was not in public interest to make such baseless allegations against the police department and the police officers. Making such baseless allegations will have serious impact on the morale and motivation of the police force which in turn will adversely affect public safety and security, he added.

According to the DGP, Revanth Reddy also expressed his view that it would have been better, had the Maoist problem continued. He pointed out that more than 350 personnel of Telangana Police laid down their lives and made supreme sacrifices fighting left wing extremism. A large number of innocent citizens, public representatives including ministers and MLAs lost their lives in the mindless violence perpetrated by Maoists. "Making baseless allegations against police officers risking their lives day in and day out does not augur well for the safety and security of the society at large," the DGP added.