Rowdy sheeters in Andhra Pradesh are reportedly evolving into sophisticated white-collar criminals, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the state's law enforcement and policing strategies. Once feared as street-level offenders, many now operate under the guise of respectable businessmen and politicians, engaging in money laundering, land grabbing, drug trafficking, and organized fraud.
Authorities classify rowdy sheeters under two categories suspect sheets and history sheets. A suspect sheet typically includes individuals involved in petty quarrels or thefts, whereas a history or rowdy sheet is opened against those with multiple criminal cases. Further classifications include DC crimes (inter-district thefts and robberies) and decapitation crimes (large gang-led offenses).
In Andhra Pradesh, there are reportedly around 50,000 to 60,000 rowdy sheeters, with the NTR District Police Commissionerate alone accounting for about 3,500 to 4,000. These include not only the uneducated and habitual criminals but also well-educated individuals, women, and political figures.
Every Sunday, AP Police conduct counseling sessions for these rowdy sheeters to dissuade them from reoffending. However, only 60-70% attend mostly low-level criminals. The more dangerous, white-collar ones often skip these sessions, continuing to defraud the public through schemes involving fake job promises, narcotics distribution, and high-stakes land scams.
Many of these individuals are under city deportation orders but routinely re-enter Commissionerate limits, conduct illegal activities, and leave unnoticed sometimes even under police watch. This raises suspicion of informants within law enforcement and questions the seriousness of crime control in the region.
In earlier times, police displayed photographs of petty criminals at public places. But Present, rowdy sheeters involved in grave crimes remain visually unidentified. Citizens are demanding transparency from the police and want rowdy sheeter photographs displayed in stations and transit points for public awareness.
The silence from the Home Department and police has triggered public outrage, with many questioning whether administrative pressure, bribes, or promotion politics are protecting the culprits. The public now awaits a clear explanation.
