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Journalists all over Andhra Pradesh will go on a day's hunger strike on April 28 to protest against the posting of controversial IPS officer PSR Anjaneyulu as the police commissioner of Vijaywada, as he was found responsible for beating journalists in Osmania University Campus in February last.
Anjaneyulu, who was one of the several police officials indicted by the Press Council of India, was given the prime positing of Vijaywada police commissioner by the state government during the recent reshuffle of IPS officers.
Even though the PCI, after a thorough probe, had recommended the state government not to give the guilty police officials any post where they can interfere with the freedom of press, the government went ahead with shifting him to Vijaywada.
A delegation of journalists met Chief Minister K Rosaiah in vain.
Anjaneyulu, who was joint commissioner of Hyderabad police at the time of police brutality against journalists in Osmania University, took the charge as Vijaywada commissioner.
According to the sources, Chief Minister K Rosaiah gave him the nod to go ahead and take charge after the Director General of Police RR Girish Kumar strongly advocated in his favour.
Angered over this, Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists and the organisations of electronic media persons and the photographers have decided to take the path of agitation. Apart from sitting on hunger strike, they will also take out processions and organise Rasta Roko.
Several journalists, TV camerapersons and photographers were beaten up by the police, their vehicles were damaged and burnt when they had gone to cover pro Telangana protest by the students on Osmania University campus on February 14 and 15.