AP govt. bans public meetings, rallies on roads; warns of stern action if flouted

AP government has imposed a ban on public meetings and rallies on national, state, municipal, and panchayat Raj roads across the state

AMARAVATI: In the wake of a couple of stampede incidents in Kandukur and Guntur, which left eleven people dead and several injured, the Andhra Pradesh government has imposed a ban on public meetings and rallies on national, state, municipal, and panchayat Raj roads across the state.

Harish Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary of Home Department, issued orders on Monday under the Police Act, 1861 to this extent.

However, the government said that the district SPs and Police Commissioners may grant permission in very rare cases. Stating that the National, State, Municipal, and Panchayat Raj roads in the state should be used only for the transportation of people and goods, the government directed the district officials to select alternative places for holding meetings in villages, towns, and cities.

It advised the various political parties and other organisations to hold meetings at selected places and warned of severe action if the organisers failed to follow the government orders.