Police officers condemn remarks against DGP

HYDERABAD: Rallying behind their boss, the AP Police Officer’s Association has asked politicians to stop criticising the director-general of police and the home minister. Speaking to media here on Friday, APPOA president KV Chalapathi Rao and other office-bearers said that criticising the head of police force (HOPF) was tantamount to criticising the police force.Chalapathi Rao took exception to a political leader’s comment that the DGP should shed his uniform and join politics.“We won’t tolerate criticism against the head of the police force,’’ he said. “For the past two years we have been facing severe problems in discharging our duties. We have not been able to meet our families nor celebrate festivals with them. Yet, we have been working to safeguard the lives of the people At times, we stay on platforms and roads without even water,” Rao said, adding, “Even as we are having our own problems, we are performing duties without having any regional, caste or community bias or getting influenced by any political party.’’The AP IPS Officers Association too condemned use of intemperate language against the DGP.“The DGP’s press conference should be understood in the spirit of the fact that police department is duty-bound to protect life, liberty and property of law-abiding citizens,’’ association secretary AB Venkateswara Rao said in a statement.