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Tag: #VCSajjanar

Hyderabad Police Chief Condemns Drunk Driving as ‘Terrorism’ After Deadly Bus Fire in Kurnool

HYDERABAD / KURNOOL — In the wake of a devastating bus fire in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, which claimed at least 20 lives, V.C. Sajjanar, Commissioner of Police in Hyderabad, has issued a sharp condemnation of drunk driving, calling those who drive under the influence “terrorists”.

The incident involved a private sleeper bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, which collided with a motorcycle on the highway in the early hours of Friday. The bike, ridden by a man under the influence of alcohol, was reportedly dragged by the bus before his vehicle’s fuel tank ignited, setting off the fire that engulfed the bus and killed the passengers. 

In a post on the social media platform X, Mr Sajjanar said: “Drunk drivers are terrorists. Period. Drunk drivers are terrorists and their actions are nothing short of acts of terror on our roads.” He described the Kurnool tragedy not as a mere accident but as “a criminal act of negligence that annihilated entire families within seconds.”

He emphasised that under his jurisdiction there will be no leniency or exception for those caught driving while intoxicated. “Every single person caught driving under the influence will face the full force of law. There will be no mercy for those who endanger innocent lives,” he said.

Investigators have since confirmed that the motorcyclist was driving while drunk and had earlier refuelled his bike just minutes before the crash. The bike’s headlight was found to be non-functional and the rider lost control before the fatal collision.

The bus driver has been arrested in connection with the incident and further investigations are underway into the sequence of events that triggered the blaze

This tragedy has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of laws against driving under the influence and stricter penalties for those who risk public safety on the roads.

Source:Times of India India Times

VC Sajjanar Appointed as New Hyderabad Police Commissioner

Hyderabad, September 27: Senior IPS officer VC Sajjanar, widely known as an “encounter specialist,” has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad. A 1996-batch IPS officer, Sajjanar succeeds CV Anand, who has now been posted as Chief Secretary for the Telangana Home Department.

Sajjanar is best known for his tenure as Cyberabad Police Commissioner, where he hit national headlines for the 2019 Disha gang-rape and murder case. The brutal incident involved the gang-rape and killing of a 27-year-old veterinarian in Hyderabad’s Shadnagar area. The victim’s charred body was discovered on November 28, 2019, sparking nationwide outrage and protests.

Under Sajjanar’s leadership, the police shot dead all four accused on December 6, 2019, near Chatanpally — close to the spot where the victim’s body was found. Police claimed the accused attempted to snatch weapons and escape during a crime scene reconstruction, prompting officers to open fire. The incident divided public opinion: many celebrated it as swift justice, while human rights groups criticized it as an extrajudicial execution.

In 2022, a Supreme Court-appointed inquiry commission concluded that the police narrative was not credible and termed the incident a “fake encounter,” recommending that the policemen involved face trial for murder.

Before this appointment, Sajjanar was serving as the Managing Director of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC).

Major IPS Transfers in Telangana

Sajjanar’s appointment comes amid a major reshuffle of IPS officers in the state:

  • Battula Shivadhar Reddy has been appointed as the new Director General of Police (DGP).
  • Ravi Gupta, Special Chief Secretary, Home, has been transferred as Executive Vice-Chairman and Director General, Centre for Good Governance.
  • Shikha Goel will be the new Director General, Vigilance & Enforcement and Ex-Officio Principal Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, in addition to her current role as Director, TG Cyber Security Bureau.
  • Swati Lakra, Additional Director General of Police, Organisation & Home Guards, is given full additional charge of Director General, Special Protection Force.
  • Charu Sinha, ADGP, CID, is given full additional charge as Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, replacing Vijay Kumar, who is now posted as ADGP, Intelligence.
  • Dr. Anil Kumar, ADGP (Personnel), is transferred and posted as ADGP (Operations), Greyhounds & OCTOPUS.
  • Y. Nagi Reddy, Director General, Telangana Disaster Response and Fire Services, is posted as MD, TGSRTC.
  • Vikram Singh Mann, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), Hyderabad, will be the new Director General, Telangana Disaster Response & Fire Services.

This reshuffle marks a significant reorganization of Telangana’s police leadership as the state government looks to strengthen law enforcement and administrative efficiency

Source:The News Minute