The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Hi-tech weapons baffle police

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Hi-tech weapons baffle police

By Our Staff Reporter

WARANGAL, JAN. 30. The recovery of sophisticated weapons from the scene of Saturday's encounter in the Tadvai forest area has baffled the police. Among them was one Automatic Loading Rifle (ALR), which is an Army service weapon.

According to the Superintendent of Police, M. S. Ravindra, one Venkanna, who belonged to Narasakkapalli of Narasampet division, had deserted the Army long ago with two ALRs. He later joined the Prathighatana group. The police recovered one from him when he was killed in an encounter near Suryapet. The other one was recovered on Saturday.

The other weapons too, according to the police, were sophisticated and included one Springfield, five 8mm rifles, one SBBL and one 12 bore. In all, 14 weapons were recovered from the scene. A large quantity of ammunition was also recovered. Speaking to newsmen, the Warangal range DIG, B. L. Meena, said extremists possessed sophisticated weapons which usually the police did not use. "What kind of service they intend to do to people with these latest weapons?'' he asked.

Tribals in dire straits

Mr. Ravindra said as extremists terrorised tendu leaf contractors they were not coming forward to do business. As a result, some two lakh tribals were deprived of their source of income.

"All contractors of the district migrated to Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and other districts of Andhra Pradesh. The prevailing drought, unemployment and the harassment of contractors by naxalites have compounded the problems of poor tribals in agency areas,'' he said.

He urged tendu leaf contractors to carry on their business without fear and assured them of providing enough protection. He wanted them to pass on information of any harassment or forcible collection of party fund by extremist groups.

Ex-naxalite killed

Our Karminagar Staff Reporter writes:

The Maoists shot dead a surrendered naxalite, V. Ramesh alias Murali (22), branding him an informer, on the outskirts of Begumpet village in Kamanpur mandal in the early hours of Sunday.

Police sources said three action team members went to the house of Ramesh and took him to the martyrs memorial and while they were grilling him, he took to heels.

However, the naxalites caught up with him and shot him dead.

The naxalites charged that Ramesh was responsible for the encounter killing of two of their women cadre in Rudraram village under Koyyur police station limits two years ago.

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