Disclosing that there have been inputs from the state Intelligence wing to suggest that those participating in the Telangana March on September 30 are likely to target properties of people belonging to Andhra and Rayalaseema and also some personalities, police have said they will act tough with violent protesters.
''Keeping in view the violence that took place during the Million March last year, we will take stern action against violent protesters,'' director-general (law & order) SA Huda told mediapersons here on Wednesday.
Declaring that organising the Telangana March would be illegal as permission had not been given for it, Huda said the city had become a platform for the prestigious international bio-diversity conference, COP-11, which will commence a day after the proposed march and the Ganesh immersion on September 29, a day before the march.
''We have denied permission for the march in view of security reasons. Our job is to ensure peace and we will take all measures in that endeavour. In fact, that is the job we are paid for,'' he remarked.
''We have already received some inputs from the intelligence wing that some miscreants have planned to cause damage to properties of Seemandhra people and that the agitators are likely to attack some personalities belonging to Andhra and Ralayaseema in the name of Telangana March,'' Huda said.
Stating that maintenance of law and order was a mandate, Huda said they had information that the agitators would try to create panic among the people. ''We have deployed heavy forces in and around the city and additional forces are also being brought in to prevent untoward incidents. We will also utilise some additional forces sent by the central government,'' he added.