Hyderabad, Feb 13 (NationPress) The Director General of Police for Telangana, B. Shivdhar Reddy, emphasized on Friday that any unlawful actions directed at government staff and police officers involved in the election process will not go unanswered.

The DGP firmly stated that verbal abuse and physical attacks against those dedicated to ensuring the elections are conducted fairly will be met with zero tolerance.

In his remarks, he affirmed that no individual, whether they are public officials, candidates, or political party members, is exempt from the law, and that any interference with officials performing their duties will lead to legal repercussions.

He issued a stern warning that individuals committing unlawful acts against government and police staff during election duty, regardless of their political affiliation or status, will face serious penalties.

“If you wish to lodge a complaint concerning government and police employees on election duty, please direct your grievances to the State Election Commission or higher authorities. However, we will not allow individuals to take the law into their own hands,” he stated.

The DGP also instructed district superintendents of police and police commissioners to swiftly investigate incidents involving assaults on police and government personnel and take necessary actions.

He urged political leaders and groups to collaborate with election staff and adhere to regulations during the vote counting process.

This statement from the police chief coincided with the commencement of vote counting for the municipal elections that took place on Wednesday.

The elections were conducted in 116 municipalities and seven corporations on that day.

On the following day, Sangareddy town police filed an FIR against senior Congress figure T. Jagga Reddy for allegedly verbally assaulting Inspector V. Shiva Kumar, who was overseeing a polling station in the 34th ward of Sangareddy municipality on Wednesday.

The police initiated cases under applicable sections of the law. The complaint was filed by K. Vinay Kumar, Deputy Tahsildar, who was assigned as part of a flying surveillance team during the municipal elections.

Following the directives of the Additional Collector (Local Bodies) in Sangareddy, Vinay Kumar lodged the complaint after obtaining video evidence of Jagga Reddy's alleged verbal abuse towards the police officer and after conversing with the victim at the municipal office.

In his defense, Jagga Reddy claimed his actions were provoked by the misconduct of police officers, asserting that his response was a reaction to the humiliation faced by Congress workers at the hands of a police inspector during the municipal elections.