The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Lapse of ban makes no difference for PW

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Lapse of ban makes no difference for PW

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, JULY 23. The State Government's decision to allow the ban on Communist Party of India (ML-People's War) and its five front organisations to lapse does not make any difference in the agency area of the district where the PW has a strong presence.

The PW has been enjoying free access to villages and habitations ever since the Government pulled back the police from the active anti-naxalite operations to create an atmosphere congenial for a dialogue with naxalites. It will continue its activities in the same vein and more openly now.

Martyrs' week

With no ban on them the organisations are expected to conduct the martyrs week from July 28 in a more organised and elaborate manner. The three-month free time has allowed the PW to raise memorial pillars in the name of many of its heroes at several places in the agency area, allegedly with the help of contractors working in the area. The work on memorials at Pedavalsa, Koyyuru, Darakonda, Titturalla and some other places has been going on very near to the road points.

The police are apprehensive about the PW and its front organisations' consolidating support and sympathy for the their movement in plain areas also from now on.

RSU support

It is believed that the Radical Students Union has the support of tribal students of the agency area studying in schools and colleges, many of them being residential institutions. The RSU and other front organisations have some sympathisers in the plains also, particularly in Visakhapatnam, which is considered a shelter zone for the PW, and in the changed conditions the organisations may get themselves involved in the issues involving students, employees and other sections of the people.

The PW has gained the support and sympathy of the people, particularly the tribals, by taking up their issues and reaching the areas and solving issues where the Government has failed. Corruption or the inability of the Government servants to extend instant help to the tribals regarding health, water supply and other essential requirements were exploited by the PW and thus it has gained a lot of support. The same strategy is likely to be adopted in the plain areas. During the last few months when the police were confined to their police stations, the PW was able to enlist support of many tribals for its militia wing, one of its vital organs, which gives support in terms of supplies, information and other inputs.

Donations

The PW had also allegedly collected donations running into several lakhs of rupees from different sections of the people during the last three months. The PW may not go for more arms because all active members of its Dalams in the agency area, estimated around 100, are already armed, and an attack on a police station is not likely now since it will lead to breakdown of talks.

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