The Hindu : Reaching out to kin to win over naxals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 10, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Reaching out to kin to win over naxals

ANANTAPUR, JAN. 8. The district police have been making novel efforts like conducting health camps, distributing alms besides counselling and development programmes to bring the naxalites back to the mainstream. As part of such efforts they have utilised the occasion of New Year to counsel the families of naxalites by sending a message along with the New Year greetings.

New Year greeting cards were sent to parents and other close kin of naxalites, particularly their siblings, with the message to the former to convince their dear ones living in the forests to join the mainstream. In a first-of-its-kind effort in the district, the Superintendent of Police, Anil Kumar, sent the New Year greetings to about 90 families of naxalites in all parts of the district. The greetings were sent by post to families of naxalites operating in the district and outside. In his message printed in the greeting cards the SP wished the parents and the kin of the naxalites a wonderful year ahead.

He wished that the families be blessed with health, wealth and happiness throughout the year. Further, he wished good rainfall and good crop yields this year. He appealed to the families to join hands with the administration for development of villages by shunning violence. He urged them not to allow their children, brothers and sisters to tread the path of extremism as it would darken their future. "Why should your dear ones tread the thorny path without any destination and grope in the dark with fear stalking every moment,'' the SP sought to know from the naxalites' families.

The greeting cards also have catchy slogans like `bullet vaddu - ballot muddu' (leave bullet, come to ballot) and `adavulanu veedandi - gramallo bratakandi' (leave the forests and live in villages). "It would be more than an achievement even if we succeed 10 per cent in inspiring the families to persuade their naxalite members to join the mainstream,'' Mr. Anil Kumar said.

He said the initial response was encouraging. The police are also using wall-writing of slogans on school buildings, public health centres and private buildings. This medium is being used mostly in Ramagiri, Dharmavaram, Penukonda, Kothacheruvu and Bukkapatnam areas.

Greetings to cops

In another first, the SP has also sent New Year greetings to all employees of the Police Department. He appealed to the police personnel to work with an ideology of "society is greater than an individual''. He asked the cops to work with renewed vigour in the New Year and measure up to the expectations of the people.

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