The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Balimela incident was an error of judgement, says DIG

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Friday, Jul 25, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Balimela incident was an error of judgement, says DIG

Staff Reporter

Exudes confidence that police will overcome temporary setbacks

Police Duty Meet conducted
Tribals’ cooperation to Maoists at the gunpoint, he says

Kakinada: Sailing in a single boat under the belief that their movement would go unnoticed by the Maoists was a serious `error of judgment’ that resulted in the death of 38 policemen in the recent attack at Balimela on the Andhra – Orissa border. It was an adverse situation that should be taken as a lesson in dealing with the banned outfit, said Eluru Range DIG Md. Ahsan Reza.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the 31st Eluru Range Police Duty Meet here on Thursday, Mr. Reza said the Balimela incident was a severe jolt to the police who should be always cautious about such an onslaught by the Maoists. However, he exuded confidence that the police would bounce from such temporary setbacks by covering the lapses.

The cooperation said to be extended by tribal people of Balimela to Maoists was probably extracted at the gunpoint as there was no reason for anyone to be critical of what the Governments and police had been doing for people’s welfare. Roads and other infrastructure facilities were being provided under the Remote and Interior Areas Development (RIAD) scheme to develop rural areas. TheMaoists should then eschew violence but they continued to wage the war against the State by keeping themselves aloof from the reality, the DIG said.

Mr. Reza observed that the CPI (Maoist) had some dalams in which all members excluding the commanders, were aged between 10 and 15. It was a dangerous thing as the children would do whatever their bosses dictated them to. Obviously, the Maoists should own up responsibility for spoiling young minds in the name of ideology.

Earlier, Mr. Reza called upon the police personnel from East and West Godavari and Krishna districts who came to participate in the meet, to strive toachieve better professional standards and exhibit their talents intate and national level events.

East Godavari district SP Y Nagi Reddy, Additional SP AV Ranganath and OSD PHD Ramakrishna were present.

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