The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : People's War reconsolidating its base

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

People's War reconsolidating its base

By D. Chandra Bhaskar Rao

KHAMMAM, SEPT 28. The People's War has given up its hit-and-hide tactics and begun to focus on villages in tribal pockets of the district for reconsolidation of its base. It is also making efforts for fresh recruitment and induction of youth not yet exposed to the police.

Source of worry

The activities of the naxalite group in the truce period had become a major source of worry for the police. The People's War has made some contacts in the Venkatapuram, Yellandu and Pinapaka areas in a bid to lure tribal youths active in the villages. It was successful in picking up at least five youths from these areas, according to police sources. Missing youths from villages have reportedly surfaced in the dalams during the past few weeks.

The strength of the PW hardcore cadres, which came down over the years from 21 to 17 in the district, is once again gaining in numbers.

A woman from a tribal habitation in Palvancha rural, who had been away from the family for about a fortnight, was suspected to have gone underground. She was known for leaning towards the left wing extremist

group. The police had planned counselling for her family. But much to their relief, she returned to the village two days ago.

Monetary lure

The other left wing groups have also been taking advantage of the truce and luring youth into their fold. One of the naxalite groups had been recruiting them on a payment of Rs 5,000 per month and using them

mainly for extortion purpose, according to a senior police officer. In all 13 such persons who joined the groups in recent weeks were arrested in the Kothagudem and Palvancha areas.

Police strategy

The police adopted a different strategy to counter the activities of the People's War. The Police Department had organised over 240 village visits during the past two months.

The village visits were aimed at gaining confidence of villagers by helping in solving their problems. The police have been identifying need-based development works and are acting as nodal agency in getting them sanctioned and implemented.

The Venkatapuram police proposed a metal road between Aalubaka and Seetarampuram villages as part of the mission. The road estimated at Rs 90 lakhs will benefit Tippapuram, Penkavagu, Kalipaka and a few

other villages. The Perur police have been mounting pressure on local authorities for construction of compound wall to the upper primary school at Korakal. They have also been insisting on

sinking a borewell in the village.

The police also got old-age pensions sanctioned for 182 persons, houses under the IAY for 44 families, ration cards for 45 families and

streetlighting for six villages.

In all 490 school children were vaccinated at health camps conducted by them. Sports kits were distributed to youth clubs in 168 villages.

The police in coordination with other departments organised grama sadassu in 190 villages. The Superintendent of Police, Bhavana Saxena, said good works aimed at benefiting disadvantaged people would go a long way.

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