Speakers at a round-table conference in Vijayawada on Tuesday, 30 June voiced sharp concern over what they described as a near-total collapse of law and order in Andhra Pradesh under the current coalition government. The gathering, titled 'Police Functioning and the Deteriorating Law and Order Situation,' brought together former ministers, retired civil servants, lawyers, academics and political analysts to document a pattern of alleged police misconduct and institutional failure.

Key Voices at the Conference

The round table was addressed by former ministers Ambati Rambabu and Merugu Nagarjuna, former MLA Malladi Vishnu, retired IAS officer Vijay Kumar, retired ASP Jalla Rajeswar Reddy, social activist Vasundhara, academician Prof Ramachandraiah, High Court advocate K.V.M. Rajani, and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Publicity Wing President Kakumanu Rajasekhar, alongside lawyers, retired civil servants and political analysts.

The breadth of participation — spanning the judiciary, bureaucracy, academia and politics — lent the gathering a cross-sectional character rarely seen at opposition-aligned forums in the state.

Custodial Deaths and Demand for CBI Probe

Participants specifically demanded an immediate Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna and the suicide of Perupogu Kranti Kumar. Speakers alleged that destruction of CCTV footage and the disappearance of evidence in both cases had severely eroded public trust in the state police machinery.

They argued that custodial deaths cannot be credibly investigated by the same police apparatus implicated in them, and called for accountability to extend beyond individual officers to the higher levels of the police hierarchy.

Bihar Cited as a Comparative Benchmark

In a pointed rhetorical comparison, experts at the conference argued that Bihar — historically associated with poor law and order — now compares more favourably than Andhra Pradesh on policing and public safety. They contended that Bihar's political leadership has taken demonstrable action against those who violate laws, whereas Andhra Pradesh has witnessed growing and unaddressed concerns over policing. The comparison, critics noted, was intended to underscore the severity of the situation rather than serve as an endorsement of Bihar's governance record.

Broader Concerns: Women, Dalits and Democratic Rights

The conference also flagged the alleged politicisation of the police, selective registration of cases, attacks on Opposition leaders, harassment of lawyers, and rising insecurity among women, Dalits, backward classes and ordinary citizens. Participants argued that constitutional safeguards — including the right to life and due process — were being systematically undermined.

Speakers highlighted rising attacks on women, political violence, false cases filed against victims, and what they described as a shrinking space for democratic dissent across the state.

What the Round Table Resolved

The gathering resolved to prepare a comprehensive public charge sheet documenting the government's law and order record — covering custodial deaths, attacks on women, political violence, misuse of police powers and suppression of democratic rights. Participants urged independent institutional intervention to restore public confidence, uphold constitutional governance and ensure justice for victims.

Whether the state government or the police hierarchy will respond to these demands formally remains to be seen, with no official reaction issued as of the time of reporting.