The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Police gear up to meet naxal challenge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 27, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Police gear up to meet naxal challenge

By Our Correspondent

ADILABAD, NOV. 26. In view of the rapid developments, vis-a-vis the naxalite issue, the district police have decided to remove any ambiguity in dealing with the armed Communist Party of India (Maoist) cadre visiting villages. The Adilabad Superintendent of Police, Kripa Nand Tripathi Ujela, said; "In case we come across naxalites moving in villages with weapons the result will be exchange of fire."

There have been developments in some remote villages in the district, which do not augur well for the ongoing peace process. The police accused the CPI (Maoist) of creating terror in the villages, as they were carrying arms and settling scores with the villagers.

Parties despatched

Already, two special parties have been despatched to Karji and Girivelli villages in Dahegaon mandal where the CPI (Maoist) naxalites were reported to have held a praja court and forced the Dahegaon Mandal Parishad president, S. Satyanarayana, and three others to resign from the Telugu Desam Party earlier this week.

The police parties have been sent to build confidence among villagers and stop the illegal interference of naxalites in the affairs of the villagers.

Talking to the The Hindu , the SP cited instances of CPI (Maoist) naxalites intimidating villagers. He said that these incidents had made the police change their stance on the movement of naxalites with arms.

He said no sooner did the peace process start that the naxalites beat up a villager in Gandigopalpur and threatened villagers of Gangapur and Kadamba who had even snatched weapons from the naxalites while chasing them away.

Interior areas

It is a fact that armed naxalites are visiting interior villages, especially in the eastern region's tribal belt. Their visits to interior villages of Asifabad, Kerameri, Wankidi, Tiryani, Dahegaon, Bejjur and Kagaznagar mandals are aimed at settling disputes as well as intimidating villagers into subjugation.

The cadre strength of naxalites has increased from 39 to 60. However, not all the naxalites are armed.

According to information culled by the district police, only 38 naxalites carry weapons. When asked what likely impact the decision to confront armed naxalites would have on peace talks, Mr. Ujela observed "The talks are being held to bring the naxalites to the mainstream and not to let the system collapse."

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