The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Police firing in self-defence: Jana

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Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Police firing in self-defence: Jana

By Our Staff Reporter

PRODDATUR (CUDDAPAH DT.), JAN. 8. The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, on Saturday termed the encounter in Prakasam district "unfortunate" but gave a clean chit to the police saying that they opened fire in "self-defence."

Speaking to newsmen, the Minister maintained that the police had gone to the area on combing operations and they did not intend killing the naxalites. The Government stand on naxals had always been clear and such incidents occurred because the naxals were moving with arms in villages.

Asked about the Maoist emissary, Kalyan Rao's charges on the encounter, he remarked that there was no need to give an explanation. "Naxalites are not our enemies, but they must not move with arms," he said.

`No hindrance to talks'

Our Hyderabad Staff Reporter adds: The Director General of Police, Swaranjit Sen, said that the encounter killing of a Maoist activist would not impact the peace talks. "I neither feel nor hope the encounter would affect the talks", he said.

Mr. Sen said police party did not purposely go on the offensive when it encountered the Maoists. The reaction of the Maoists in opening fire at the police exposed their intentions.

Emissaries cry foul

The CPI (Maoist) and Janashakti emissaries blamed the Government for resuming encounters and vitiating the peaceful atmosphere even as it talked the about peace process.

Reacting to the encounter killings of Lathakka in Prakasam district on Saturday and a Janashakti activist, Raji Reddy, in Warangal two days ago, the emissaries, Varavara Rao, Rao, Kalyan Rao and Gadar (Maoist) and Chandranna and C. Srinivas Rao (Janashakti), in a statement, alleged that the incidents were aimed at violating the ceasefire agreement and stalling the peace talks.

They claimed that the killing of Lathakka in particular had exposed it as an action of the police in retaliation against the death of IPS officer, Surendra Babu, in Bihar. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, while assuring that the Bihar incident would not be allowed to cast a shadow on the talks, failed to take steps to prevent the police from taking up combing operations.

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