The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Police woo fishermen to check Maoists

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Saturday, Mar 22, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Police woo fishermen to check Maoists

Correspondent

Operation Krishna launched at Srisailam Hydro electrical project

Rowing for fun: Fishermen participating in a ferry competition organised at Pathala Ganga in Srisailam reservoir on Friday.

MAHABUBNAGAR: The district police administration has launched unique programme “Operation Krishna” on Thursday at Srisailam Hydro electrical project on Krishna river for the welfare and development of fishermen and other tribes leaving along river Krishna in Nallamala forest. So as to wean away fishermen from Maoists.

Maoists who made Nallamala forest their shelter use fishermen who ferry in Srisailam reservoir as their informers.

The fishermen pass on the information and movements of combing parties and special police forces to Maoists. The Nallamala forest area located in Mahabubnagar district was declared as Maoists free zone with arrest of naxal leader Thummala Bhagavanthu.

The district police under the stewardship of Superintendent of Police Charu Sinha launched operation Krishna to strategically bring the fishermen close to the police and wean them away from Maoist influence.

Under this programme the district police organised a ferry competition for the fishermen at Pathala Ganga in Srisailam reservoir.

They mobilised 800 fishermen families leaving along river Krishna in Mahabubnagar, Kurnool, Prakasam and Guntur.

The police, with the cooperation of revenue and forest departments, also issued identity cards. Ferry competitions were organised separately for women, men and youth. The winners were given prizes.

Charu Sinha released a wall poster appealing the fishermen to keep Maoists at bay as they are stumbling block to development.

The police disbursed utensils, fishing nets, television sets, Tata sky dish antenna, cricket kits worth Rs.30 lakh. Solar lanterns were also given away to them as most of the fishermen hamlets are not electrified.

Officer on Special Duty Rajesh Kumar who did the ground work to bring together fishermen said that the welfare activities would continue in future also.

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