Crime Rate Down 14.1% in AP, Gains in Women’s Safety, Cyber Security
: Andhra Pradesh has recorded a 14.1 per cent reduction in crime in the last two years, reflecting the coalition government’s focus on preventive policing, technology-driven surveillance and administrative reforms, Home and Disaster Management Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat in Amaravati, Anitha said that the government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has undertaken comprehensive reforms in law and order, women’s safety, prevention of cyber crimes, anti-drug operations, disaster management, prison management and police welfare.
He emphasized that the government is taking a proactive approach to crime prevention through CCTV surveillance, drones, artificial intelligence-based analysis and digital surveillance systems. He noted that the emphasis is on preventing crimes before they occur, rather than merely intervening after the fact.
Drawing attention to initiatives aimed at women’s safety, the minister said that special protection units, regional-level security mechanisms and technology-supported intervention systems have been strengthened. Shakti App received more than 11.15 lakh SOS calls and authorities responded to emergencies instantly.
Within the scope of Operation Muskaan, the police tracked down 8,396 missing children, women and elderly people and reunited them with their families. The government has also intensified its action against POCSO cases through special investigation teams, faster forensic examinations and victim support services. A total of 2,293 children were provided with counseling and rehabilitation assistance.
In the fight against drugs, Anitha said that the specially created EAGLE unit has intensified its actions against interstate narcotics networks and marijuana cultivation. 56,674 Ganja-related cases were registered and legal action was taken against 2,366 people, leading to seizure of assets worth over ₹4 crore.
The minister said cyber war rooms, coordination with banks and telecom firms and the 1930 cyber helpline have helped protect around 247 crore people from online fraudsters. Emergency response services have improved significantly; average response time dropped from 30 minutes in 2024 to less than 10 minutes now, maintaining a 97.47 percent efficiency rate.
More than 6,000 police personnel were hired and 505 officers were officially promoted. The salary of police constable trainees has been increased from ₹ 4,000 to ₹ 7,500.
Anitha said Andhra Pradesh has strengthened disaster preparedness through 26 NDRF teams, 22 SDRF teams, drone-based monitoring and early warning systems. He noted that the coordinated prosecution resulted in convictions in 279 major cases, including eight death penalty cases, demonstrating the government’s commitment to public safety and justice.
