HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana intelligence sleuths are engaged in spy war. Sources said AP intelligence sleuths are conducting a ground level assessment in Hyderabad and other Telangana districts, where TDP is likely to contest in alliance with Congress as part of the ‘mahakutami’.Telangana Rashtra Samithi has been taking objection to increased activity by AP intelligence sleuths in Hyderabad and IT minister KT Rama Rao alleged Naidu is waging a proxy war in Telangana.A senior police official of Telangana told TOI, “The AP Intelligence department is located in the same premises as Telangana Intel in Lakdikapul. Also located in Hyderabad is AP Intelligence Security Wing, which is engaged in anti-Naxalite activity and the state intelligence bureau (SIB) for antiterror counter intelligence. AP’s political intelligence unit too is located here. A few days ago, they strengthened their political intelligence unit’s staff from 40 to 70. We cannot stop them from working from Hyderabad as AP can use facilities here for 10 years as per AP Reorganisation Act.”Officials revealed TDP has asked for 25 to 30 seats in Telangana and they are focusing on 15 Assembly seats. “They are conducting an assessment of candidates and party strength in around 15 Assembly seats. Many intelligence officers have recently come from AP and are doing assessment and survey.”The intelligence war between AP and Telangana started with the 2015 cash-for-vote scam in which AP Intelligence failed to detect the operation done by Telangana police to arrest then TDP leader and now Congress working president A Revanth Reddy. Since then, AP has strengthened its intelligence network after A R Anuradha was replaced with AB V Venkateswara Rao.Experts say except for conducting ground-level assessment, it is unlikely that AP sleuths will, while operating from Hyderabad, engage in activities like phone tapping or electronic surveillance. Downplaying presence of AP intelligence officials in Hyderabad, former additional superintendent of police B Reddenna, who worked in political intelligence, told TOI, “Allegations that AP police are electronically spying on Telangana leaders could be a political stunt. At the most, they may be here for an assessment or human intelligence collection. If AP police do electronic surveillance, it’s easy to track them down. This is because Telangana police imported surveillance and detection equipment from Israel. There are more than 14,000 close-circuit cameras across the city. Any movement can be tracked. Therefore, it will not be easy for AP sleuths to operate undetected in Hyderabad.”

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