Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Naxals gear up for Martyrs' Week

By Our Staff Reporter

A martyrs' memorial constructed by naxals in memory of those killed in police encounters, at R.V. Nagar in the district. It will be inaugurated during Martyr's Week.

VISAKHAPATNAM, JULY 27. Police posted in the agency areas are getting jittery even as naxalites of the Peoples' War are making elaborate arrangements to observe Martyrs Week from Wednesday to August 3.

With the State Government allowing the ban on the PW to lapse, naxalites are having a free run in the district.

They are moving on two-wheelers and freely meeting tribals. It is learnt that most of the police are in constant fear of reprisal from the naxalites for police excesses against tribals during the TDP rule.

In the past, the tribals were caught between the devil and the deep sea.

Though they had greater faith in the naxalites, they could not approach them for fear of being dubbed `naxal sympathisers' and if they met the police, they would be labelled as `police informers.'

In the changed scenario, the tribals are meeting the naxalites and apprising them of their problems. The PW is also using the situation to its advantage. The PW cadres are fanning out to remote villages and fighting for the cause of the tribals.

The naxals are also expressing their ire at alleged misappropriation of funds released by the Central and State Governments towards tribal development, especially by engineering officials.

While records say crores of rupees are released for laying roads, provision of drinking water etc., the reality is otherwise.

GCC targeted

Meanwhile, the Korukonda Area Committee secretary, Karuna, in an open letter, appealed to the people to oppose the practices of the Girijan Cooperative Corporation, which were solely aimed at making profits, ignoring the welfare of tribals.

The committee demanded among other things consideration of the views of tribals in the supply of commodities to end cheating in weight and quality and stopping illegal sale of rice through the D.R. Depots.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Naxals gear up for Martyrs' Week
• Port strike: talks deadlocked
• Taking the risky ride to school
• Phone numbers to be shifted
• Around the City
• In Visakhapatnam Today

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu