The police sounded an alert in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts on Thursday in the wake of introduction of the note on separate Telangana at a meeting of the Union Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

DGP B. Prasada Rao asked the Commissioners and Superintendents of Police in the region over video conference to be vigilant to any untoward incidents. He told The Hindu that the police officers were instructed to strengthen security at vulnerable places like statues, houses of politicians and government establishments.

The police did not seek any Central security forces as there was pressure on them in view of upcoming elections in five State Assemblies. The State forces would be deployed adequately, he added.

Sources added that the Commissioners and SPs were asked at the video-conference to act with restraint even in adverse situations. They should talk to politicians and leaders of JACs spearheading the 60-day-old agitation in Seemandhra in a bid to ensure that there was no violence.