Ahead of the high-profile poll battle in Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada City police have stepped up measures to ensure smooth conduct of elections and as many as 284 licensed firearms were deposited with the police. Election Commission (EC) guidelines stipulate that licensed weapons should be surrendered to the police. 

While the notification for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections is expected around this week, the state is set to witness Legislative Council polls on March 22.

According to police, the holders of the licensed guns will be given back their weapons after the elections get over.

A senior official said, "Out of 378 licensed guns, 284 were deposited with different police stations under Vijayawada Commissionerate jurisdiction, while five are yet to be received."

He added, "Another 80 weapons were exempted from deposit as they are with institutions such as banks for security purpose.”

The remaining nine firearms are held by high-profile government officials, who are also exempted from depositing them. 

Vijayawada Police Commissionerate jurisdiction serves as many as four assembly constituencies fully and three partly, while covering parts of two parliament segments.

According to reports, in Visakhapatnam Commissionerate jurisdiction, 552 out of 813 licenced firearms have been deposited at different police stations.

Notices to rowdy sheeters 

In addition, the city police have also started giving bound over notices to rowdy sheeters in the city in order to ensure smooth elections. According to the city police, bound over notices have been issued to 301 rowdy sheeters, while nearly 26 are pending. 

Vijayawada City Commissioner of Police, Dwaraka Tirumala Rao told TNM that remaining licensed firearms should be deposited at the police stations concerned. He said that firm security measures are being taken by the City police in view of elections.