The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Anti-Naxal Force in State remains a paper tiger

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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Anti-Naxal Force in State remains a paper tiger

M.T. Shiva Kumar

It has no powers to arrest suspected naxals or register a case

Toothless: A file picture of ANF personnel inspecting items left behind by suspected naxalites, during a search operation in Udupi district.

Bangalore: After eight policemen and a civilian were killed in a surprise attack mounted by armed naxalites in Ventakammanahalli in Tumkur district on February 10, 2005, the State Government swung into action and hurriedly established an Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) to combat the increasing naxalite menace. But, the much-hyped ANF appears to have remained a toothless tiger with little or no powers till date.

Presently ANF has 431 security staff against a sanctioned strength of 537, who have been deployed in the naxal-infested regions in Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada and Shimoga districts. But, the force has no powers to either arrest suspected naxal elements or register a case. ANF has demanded that it be provided with a “station status”, but to no avail.

“The State Government itself has sidelined the ANF by not giving enough power,” an Assistant Commandant of ANF told The Hindu. “No efforts were made to upgrade the ANF. The government has not considered our demands,” an officer, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

Demanding powers to investigate the cases, senior officials had drafted a proposal with necessary guidelines, and sent it to their senior officials. But the demands are still in the stage of “consideration”. Despite repeated requests, the officials concerned are hesitating to forward these proposals to the government, he said.

Lack of coordination

According to the senior officials, co-ordination between ANF and the local police is sorely lacking. “The local police is not cooperating. Hence, the ANF is finding it difficult to exercise its duties. Due to this, the officials posted for ANF are disillusioned,” said the Assistant Commandant.

The ANF staff should inform the local police before beginning their operations. Moreover, in case of detainees, they should be handed over to the local police. The ANF also suspects the local police of revealing their plans to naxalites, defeating the very purpose of constituting the force,, the official said.

Recently the Shimoga police arrested three naxalites in Bangalore and one in Shimoga. But so far this matter is not brought to the notice of ANF’s Commander Amruth Paul.

When contacted, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Amruth Paul, who is heading the ANF, said: “ANF has done a tremendous job by blocking the food supply and medicines to the naxalites. Mavinaholla encounter, in which three naxals were killed, was one of the major achievements of the ANF. After ANF’s active involvement, the naxals stopped holding meetings in villages since past few months.”

Mr. Paul said: “The ANF has AK-series assault rifles, pistols, night vision goggles and binoculars, bullet-proof jackets and helmets etc. Apart from technological upgrades, trainings have been given to the ANF staff in combing operations and handling sophisticated weapons.”

At least 20 top-most naxal leaders are operating with about 200 naxal elements in Shimoga, Dakshin Kannada and Chikmagalur districts. They have attacked several houses in hamlets and villages. Also, a petty shop keeper was brutally killed by naxalites, who suspected that he was a police informer. This made the other villagers and informers to stay away from police.

Powers should be given to ANF to register and investigate cases under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 2005, Explosives Act, Arms Act, Destruction of Public Property Act etc., the officials demanded.

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