The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Government forms panel to probe `covert' incident

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 05, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Government forms panel to probe `covert' incident

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG.4. Conceding to a major demand of the People's War (PW), the State Government has announced that a two-member fact finding committee comprising People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) president, K. Kannabiran, and Human Rights Forum's (HRF) Convenor, Balagopal, would probe into the alleged `covert' incident of Oddugudem in Warangal district.

Response on Thursday

However, the Government's response to the PW's other demand to drop the clause pertaining to naxalites moving with weapons in villages, in the ceasefire agreement, would be given on Thursday, the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, said at a press conference here on Wednesday. "If need be we will talk to the PW emissaries and Janashakti groups to find a way out on the conditions put forth," he said.

The Home Minister said necessary orders constituting the fact-finding committee would be issued soon and the Government would "definitely" facilitate and support the work of the panel. Modalities of the panel were yet to be worked out including time frame on completing the mission.

He brushed away the August 10 deadline fixed by the PW on the issue.

"They can ask anything but the Government has taken the decision to reiterate its sincerity and commitment to talks process," he said.

Consent not sought

Mr. Jana Reddy said he had not sought the consent of either Kannabiran or Balagopal before announcing their names because "their names were already mooted by the PW".

He appealed to the PW, its State secretary, Ramakrishna, and other "people's organisations" to understand the spirit with which the Government had asked the naxal group not to move with weapons.

"We have not asked them to change their basic ideology or demanded relinquishing arms before the talks started. We had only urged them to desist from going to villages with arms," he explained. "During talks there should not a fear element in villages. If armed groups visit villages there is a chance of anti-social elements creating mischief and peaceful atmosphere could also get vitiated when the police enter the scene," he reasoned.

Mr. Jana Reddy said several well-meaning individuals and organisations interested in the peace talks had accepted this line of thought.

Minister's assurance

Accepting their apprehensions and doubts over the talks, the Home Minister sought to assure that the Government's steps were very well considered and pledged to safeguard the interests of all sections of the society, besides maintaining law and order in the State.

He also dismissed lightly about the Government's decision to raise 33 more platoons stating that it was "old decision" and if the process was halted, there was a chance of aspirants to approach the courts. In any case, Andhra Pradesh had the lowest police-people ratio compared to the neighbouring States.

On forming the peace monitoring committee, the Home Minister said the Government had written to organisations like the Committee of Concerned Citizens, A.P. Civil Liberties Committee, PUCL, HRF, Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Association, Ambedkar Association and Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, asking them to nominate their representatives and they were still to respond.

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