HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government on Wednesday imposed a ban on the CPI (Maoist) and seven other frontal organisations. The action came two days after the major naxalite outfit gunned down the senior Congress MLA, C. Narsi Reddy, and eight others in Mahbubnagar district.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who was authorised by his Cabinet on Tuesday to take a tough stand against naxalites, signed an order banning the eight organisations for one year under the Public Security Act. Sources in the Chief Minister's office said Dr. Reddy took the decision after informing Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Tuesday.

Mr. Patil telephoned the Chief Minister after Monday's killings and assured him of the Centre's full support to the measures initiated by his Government to contain naxal violence.

The banned outfits

At a press conference here, State Home Minister K. Jana Reddy named the banned organisations: the CPI (Maoist), the Radical Youth League, the Rythu Coolie Sangham, the Radical Students' Union, the Singareni Karmika Samakhya, the Viplava Karmika Samakhya, the All-India Revolutionary Students' Federation and the Revolutionary Writers' Association (RWA). This is the first time the RWA has been banned.

Although there is no ban on other armed outfits such as Janashakti, "the law enforcement agencies shall deal with them sternly," the Minister said. "Any member of these organisations or anyone aiding or abetting in their unlawful activities through whatever medium shall attract the provisions of the Public Security Act. The law enforcing agencies will deal with them accordingly."

The ban on the naxalite organisation comes into effect after a lapse of 13 months. After the Congress received a massive mandate in the Assembly elections, the Rajasekhara Reddy Government adopted a liberal attitude to the then People's War to pave the way for peace talks as promised by the party.

On July 22, 2004, the Government decided against renewing the ban, clamped on the first death anniversary of Rajiv.

Mr. Jana Reddy said "the Maoists have misused the opportunity given by the Government and resorted to mindless killings, extortions and kidnap. They have killed 157 political activists, policemen, home guards and civilians in the last 13 months."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail