The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Tight security as tension grips agency area

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 13, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Tight security as tension grips agency area

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, MARCH 12. A day after the violent attack by Maoists on the Chilakaluripet police station and staff quarters, the police has stepped up bandobust in north Andhra region.

A tense atmosphere prevailed in the Maoist stronghold of GK Veedhi, Chintapalli, Koyyuru, R.V. Nagar, Sitanagaram, Parvathipuram, Gummalakshmipuram and other areas with the police posting additional reinforcements.

Combing intensified

``We don't want to take any chance. Hence, combing operation has been intensified,'' a police source said. Immediately after the Chilakuluripet attack, a red alert was sounded in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, N. Madan Mohan, directed the Superintendents of Police to fortify police stations located in vulnerable areas.

MPs, MLAs alerted

All the VIPs, particularly MPs and MLAs, have been asked to inform their travel plans to the nearest police station in advance.

Gunmen provided to the elected representatives are also under review. Depending on the threat perception, additional gunmen would be provided, the source said.Even before the Chilakaluripet incident, the police had intensified security in the city and its outskirts on receipt of intelligence reports on likelihood of `Maoist attacks' in the plains -- hitherto used as shelter zones. The only incident in the area was reported three years ago when the retired Additional SP, Potha Reddy, was gunned down by naxalites here in Visalakshinagar.

Keeping in view the threat perceptions and warnings issued by the Maoists, a mobile force with specially trained Parashooters had been deployed for patrolling at night between Pendurthy and Parawada mandal police stations.

Anti-naxal operations

The posting of T. Krishna Prasad as the IG (Greyhounds) with headquarters in the city is also a move to intensify anti-naxal operations in coastal area in general and north coastal Andhra in particular.

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