Visakhapatnam city police have intensified their efforts to monitor and curb the activities of repeat offenders, commonly known as rowdy-sheeters.

Currently, there are 380 registered rowdy-sheeters spread across 22 police stations in the city. Out of these, approximately 170 individuals are actively involved in various criminal acts.

In order to control their unlawful activities, the police have decided to adopt a personalized approach, including the registration of rowdy-sheeters under the Preventive Detention (PD) Act and possible expulsion if necessary.

These rowdy-sheeters often serve as the muscle for real estate agents, facilitating unlawful settlements. Some of them also engage in acts of violence, including intoxicated murders. In 2022, Visakhapatnam witnessed 38 murders, out of which five were driven by revenge, two were committed by psychopaths, and four were the result of rowdy-sheeters under the influence of substance abuse. As of now, the police have recorded 15 murder cases in the city. Recently, a rowdy-sheeter and his gang kidnapped family members of Visakhapatnam MP MVV Satyanarayana, as well as his close associate and auditor, G Venkateswara Rao (GV). Although the police swiftly resolved the case within a few hours of receiving a tip about the kidnapping, it raised concerns about the safety in Visakhapatnam, a city known for its peaceful environment.

Kola Venkat Hemanth Kumar, who already has 12 cases against him, including kidnap and murder charges, was the primary accused in the aforementioned kidnapping incident. He had a rowdy-sheet registered at Bheemunipatnam police station. Despite being previously jailed for a kidnapping case, Kumar was released on bail a month ago, only to commit another crime shortly after a counseling session organized by the police.

Sources indicate that some rowdy-sheeters maintain connections with leaders of the ruling party and real estate agents, executing tasks assigned to them. Former City Police Commissioner Ch Srikanth had previously expelled three rowdy-sheeters from the city as part of crime prevention measures. Considering the recent incident involving the MP, City Police Commissioner CM Trivikrama Varma conducted a meeting with city officials, law enforcement officers, crime inspectors, special branch personnel, and task force officials. During the meeting, discussions revolved around monitoring the activities of rowdy-sheeters, tracking ganja (cannabis) peddlers, proposing PD Act applications, and expediting trials in each police station. The Commissioner made it clear that close surveillance would be maintained over every rowdy-sheeter, and any suspicious activity would be promptly addressed.