Andhra Pradesh: Intelligence failure to blame for Amalapuram violence?

VIJAYAWADA: The Amalapuram incident in which the houses of a minister and a MLA were set ablaze by the angry protesters has once again brought the failures of intelligence department and the preparedness of the police.
The Director General of Police (DGP) K V Rajendranath Reddy described it as sporadic incident and they have brought it under control, but he did not say anything on why they could not prevent it in the first place.
Protests began soon after the state government issued a notification changing the name of Konaseema district as Ambedkar Konaseema district. The initial protests were not in an organised manner and appeared as isolated incidents. Later, when the statements started coming under the banner Konaseema Sadhana Samithi, the isolated protests started to consolidate from May 20.
Those who are opposing the change of name gave a call to lay siege to the collectorate. The police sensed trouble and enforced restrictions. Additional forces have also been deployed in Amalapuram. Despite the restrictions, the Konaseema Sadhana Samithi called for a rally to collectorate on Monday. Police imposed section 144 and section 30 in Amalapuram and successfully prevented the agitators from coming to the collectorate.
On Tuesday, protesters made another attempt to reach the collectorate and eventually violence broke out which led to torching of buses and houses of public representatives. Even as the series of events started to unfold in a span of six days, police failed to assess the gravity of situation.
In earlier incidents except the Vijayawada rally by employees’ unions, police contained the agitators across the state be it the call given by teachers’ unions, anganwadi workers or the protests called by opposition parties. Cops used to place leaders under house arrest and detain the agitators even before they reach the protest venue.
Though similar measures have been taken in Amalapuram also, police failed to prevent the protesters before they resorted to violence. Eluru range DIG, G Palaraju said that they have managed to disburse the mob till Tuesday.
However, the agitators came in huge numbers in the evening and some anti-social elements which crept into the protesters created the problem. He said the situation is now under control with additional forces deployed and senior officers monitoring the situation.