80 active rowdies in Vijayawada on police radar

Hyderabad: The recent murder of a history-sheeter by his rivals in Vijayawada has once again brought into sharp focus the growing gangster culture and land disputes. As per the police records, there are 416 rowdy-sheeters in the city, among whom 80 are active.

Police confirmed that a majority of these rowdies have stakes in various land disputes.

“We have kept a watch on 80 active rowdies. They are involved in land disputes and other fights. We will be booking those involved in multiple cases under the Preventive Detention Act,” commissioner of police Dwaraka Tirumala Rao told TOI.

In fact, a land dispute settlement in Patamata area of Vijayawada had led to the murder of rowdy-sheeter Thota Sandeep on May 31. Five others suffered grievous injuries with gang members attacking each other with knives, boulders and iron rods. Police took the prime accused, Pandu, into the custody.

Tirumala Rao said, “Sandeep and Pandu were friends. Due to differences, they started fighting. Soon, the fights turned aggressive. A rowdy-sheet against Sandeep was closed in 2016. Police have now decided to open a rowdy-sheet against Pandu. “Both the rowdies belong to the same community,” a police official said. Their gangs are involved in land settlements n Vijayawada and Guntur, he said.

While Sandeep’s murder video has gone viral, top police brass intensified patrolling to stop streetfights. DGP Gautham Sawang took a serious view of the recent murder and held meetings on curbing the activities of rowdy elements in the city.