The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : DGP rules out probe into encounters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 23, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

DGP rules out probe into encounters

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, JAN. 22. The Director-General of Police, Swaranjit Sen, has ruled out the possibility of probing into encounters between the police and naxalites and booking cases against the police officers and men involved in such encounters.

He has asserted that the police had never violated law and had been acting as per the laws laid down. All the encounters had been genuine and there was no scope for any doubt.

In response to a question whether action would be taken against the policemen involved in encounters as demanded by the Maoists, the DGP shot back at a press conference here today: "You want it." Naxalites had been committing cold-blooded murders and it was they who had been violating the law. "Let us talk about violation of law by them first. We can discuss the issue of action against police later," he noted.

Asked whether he was hopeful of revival of the talks with naxalite groups, the DGP said such decisions would be taken by the Government. The police role was only to maintain law and order and to prevent crime.

On the Maoist allegations that the police had been influencing the Government decision against talks, Mr. Sen said there was no such possibility. The police were only an arm of the Government and it would act as per the wishes of the Government. "The Government wants us to act as per the law, be it public or anybody else," he stated.

Differences

The DGP brushed aside reports about the differences with the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, and said: "I don't know from where media get such information." On reports that a certain Minister had complained to the Chief Minister against him, the DGP said that anybody could express one's opinion in a democracy. But, he did not know the extent of truth in such `complaints'.

He cited the unification of Maoist groups and their assumption that they had become an invincible force, their plan to create an impression that the police had become weak after the change of guard (DGP) by resorting to destructive activities and their (naxalites') assessment that police might not react amply to their acts of violence during the peace process as reasons for the spurt in violence.

Police role

The decision to go or not to go for talks again by the Government was not a consideration for police role in maintaining law and order. "It does not matter. Enforcing law is our main consideration," the DGP clarified. Earlier, speaking after inaugurating the police station building at Roddam, Mr. Sen said the Maoist ideology was not relevant to India.

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