Telangana considers arming excise officers in urban region
Telangana’s Prohibition and Excise Department is preparing a proposal to equip officers in the Core Urban Region Economy area with weapons. The department’s commissioner has sought views on which ranks should be armed and said any armed operations would need to be coordinated with police.
Telangana’s Prohibition and Excise Department is preparing a proposal to equip officers serving in the Core Urban Region Economy area with weapons. Commissioner C. Hari Kiran sought views from officials on which ranks should be armed if the proposal receives government approval.
The proposal was discussed at a review meeting with excise officials from the CURE jurisdiction. Officials were asked to provide detailed inputs for the submission to the state government. Kiran directed that armed excise operations, if approved, should be conducted in coordination with the Police Department.
The commissioner also ordered stricter surveillance and increased enforcement against offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances law and violations involving non-duty-paid liquor. The department was instructed to accelerate collection of excise rental fees from bars and liquor shops. Officials were also directed to provide facilities and guidance to applicants seeking new bar licences.
The meeting was attended by senior officers including Additional Commissioner Syed Yasin Qureshi, Enforcement Joint Commissioner G. Anjan Rao and deputy commissioners responsible for Greater Hyderabad and Cyberabad. The source material does not state whether the state government has approved the proposal or specify the number of officers who could be armed.
The department’s directions indicate that a formal proposal and consultation process remain under way.
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