The Hindu : Front Page : Six Maoists killed in encounters in A.P.

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Sunday, Jan 16, 2005

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Front Page

Six Maoists killed in encounters in A.P.

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN.15. Six Maoists were shot dead in two alleged encounters with the police in Mahbubnagar and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh today.

The incidents escalated tension in the naxalite-affected districts forcing the political leaders to flee the villages even as the police sounded a red alert. Elected representatives, including Ministers, have been advised not to venture into violence-prone areas and to take precautions for their safety.

Police stations in vulnerable areas have been fortified . The Superintendent of Police of Karimnagar, Rajeev Ratan, sought permission to intensify the combing operations.

These incidents come close on the heels of the gunning down of a Congress sarpanch, Ganga Rajaiah of Rudrangi village in Karimnagar district, late on Friday night. He was killed in retaliation to the "encounter death" earlier in the day of Narsimhulu, Janashakti dalam commander, by the police in Avunur village of Mustabad mandal, also in Karimnagar.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, today expressed the Government's resolve to continue talks with the Maoists and the Janashakti. However, he made it clear that naxalities would not be allowed to carry weapons.

The CPI(Maoist) secretary, Ramakrishna, expressed serious reservations over continuation of the talks. In a statement, he accused the police of creating obstacles by resorting to fake encounters.

Immediately after the encounters, Dr. Reddy went into consultations separately with the Home Minister, Jana Reddy, the Director-General of Police, Swaranjit Sen, the APCC president, K. Keshava Rao, and the members of the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee. He urged the Committee to prevail upon the naxalites to lay down arm.

The encounters climaxed a fortnight of intermittent violence involving killings by naxalites as well as the police. Since the New Year began, three encounters have taken place in Warangal, Prakasam and Guntur districts. The Maoists shot dead a home guard and a BJP worker in reprisal in Guntur district.

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