The Hindu : We will hunt down naxals, says DGP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

We will hunt down naxals, says DGP

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR JAN.6. The Director-General of Police, Pervaram Ramulu, has virtually declared a war against naxalites of the outlawed People's War (PW) by announcing that the police will wreak vengeance against them. The hard talk made by the DGP during a tete-a-tete with newsmen here on Monday sounded almost like a death-knell to all those with naxalite leanings.

Terming the killing of policemen a barbaric act, Mr. Ramulu said the attack would have been "understandable, if not justifiable'' had the policemen been returning from a combing operation. They were attending a Government programme and returning. ``Our patience has exhausted. We will now shoot to kill. The state of policemen can now be likened to that of a wounded tiger on the prowl,'' he asserted. Stating that there was no question of soft-pedalling with the naxalites, he said: "We don't offer tea, biscuits and first aid to those who would be picked up.''

He went on to say: "We do not tolerate this nonsense any longer. They are playing with lives. This is not a joke. It cannot be taken easy. It is our people who have been afraid so far. Now, they will have to be afraid of us. It is not good for anybody. The civilian life would be thoroughly disturbed. Buses will be stopped. Children's education may get affected. Even kids from the affected villages will also be viewed with an eye of suspicion. A reign of terror will prevail in the affected areas.

"I appeal to the people of Palnadu not to entertain the naxalites. Do not feed them. Please do not provide shelter to them. Do you (people of Palnadu) want to suffer like the people in Telangana areas. Should there be loss of lives, time and money? After all, people will face losses on all fronts. All the police actions will henceforth be involuntary reactions in self-defence. All these days, our men in Guntur and Prakasam districts have been maintaining utmost restraint.

"The militants have killed the CI, Brahmaiah, two other constables at Vemavaram, four Greyhounds at Adigoppula, kidnapped two constables at Dachepalli, kidnapped the civilian officials. The people of Morjampadu village guided the naxalites for executing the landmine to kill the CI. All those who took part in these operations in Guntur district are not members of the dalam. They are all ordinary militants. The naxalites seem to have trained the militants in making claymore mines and other bombs. It does not require any technical expertise to execute the mines.''

To a query on the pertinent issues like the distribution of temple lands and shifting of "unpopular'' civilian officials, the DGP said the Police Department apprised the Government of the situation. The Government was seized of the matter. Asked if the police would exert pressure on the Government to act upon these issues, he replied in the negative and added that it was for the Government to decide. He remarked that "all democratic Governments do take corrective steps.''

Mr. Ramulu exuded confidence that the naxalism could be arrested in the Palnadu area with people's cooperation. Asked if the police were trying to motivate the political leadership, cutting across party lines, to go to people and educate them of ill-effects of encouraging naxalism, the DGP said the matter was discussed with the two Ministers and senior officials in the district.

4 more districts identified

as sensitive

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad Jan. 6. Apart from Guntur, the Government has identified Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts as sensitive to the naxalite problem.

Disclosing this after a review meeting here today, the Home Minister, T. Devender Goud, said there was increased naxalite activity in the Palnadu area of Guntur district and this might be due to the extensions of Nallamala forest and negative response to the ideology from people in Telangana region. He said, they were concentrating on Guntur and other districts by giving proper training to police personnel.

On " the Quick Response'' system introduced in Hyderabad with effect from January 1, the Home Minister said they were gearing up the set-up in such a way that there would be response even on a complaint lodged through telephone.

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

Southern States

Stories in this Section

TRS calls for Telangana State

Students devise novel method to prevent accidents

Tourism festival from Jan. 31

Tearful farewell to slain constables

CM asks tribals to assert themselves

`Imported silk ruining ryots'

Three naxals killed in `encounter'

A high-profile pat for villagers who stood up to naxals

Minister, MLA taste people's wrath

We will hunt down naxals, says DGP