The Anantapur District Police Officers Association lashed out at politicians in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, and said that their demeaning statements against the force will not be tolerated.
Speaking to reporters in Anantapur, association president Sake Triloknath and secretary Gorantla Madhav said that politicians were taking the police for granted and using public platforms like the media to tarnish their image. They also said that they would respond in a similar manner, if that was the case.
"It was the police who restored law and order when factionists and naxalites were creating trouble, Nowadays, it has become a habit for MLAs and MPs to talk about the police in a hurtful way. Let it be known that if any politician insults the force for their own mileage, I will cut off their tongues," a visibly angry Gorantla Madhav said.
“We have been tolerant so far but they can't disrespect the police force. We are very serious. We are here to serve the public and joined to help the common citizen. We are not here to provide security for politicians,” Madhav added.
The association was responding to comments made by Anantapur MP JC Diwakar Reddy from the ruling TDP in the state, who had lashed out at the police earlier in the week, for its 'failure' in controlling the violence in Tadipatri mandal.
At least one person was killed and several others were injured as violence broke out for the second time in Chinnapolamada village in less than a week.
The violence, which broke out among inmates of the Swamy Prabodhananda Ashram and locals, resulted in a situation where people were attacked with stones, sticks and rods. Some inmates of the ashram also allegedly hurled petrol bombs, which resulted in many vehicles catching fire or getting damaged.
“The police failed miserably in controlling the situation. Despite having so much authority, why can't they enter the ashram and arrest the accused? If an MP doesn't have security, how will they help the local people and my constituents?" Diwakar had said at the time.
Responding to the statement, Madhav said, "Don't political leaders ever fail? So many of them are failures. It is human to make mistakes or have some small neglect on our side. That doesn't mean that politicians can say whatever they want."