The Hindu : Hostage drama continues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Hostage drama continues

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR DEC.21. Though the police acceded to the demands of naxalites, the People's War (PW) did not release the two constables who were held hostage since Thursday evening. On the other hand, the naxalites came up with a new demand that Barise Kotaiah and K. China Daveedu, who were arrested recently, and two other persons belonging to Takkellapadu village should be released "unconditionally.'' However, the Police Department is apparently not ready to agree to any of the demands before the two constables are released unhurt.

Meanwhile, the police could open up a dialogue with the naxalite leaders through the sarpanch of Takkellapadu village, Tamtam Srinivas Babu, who was released from police custody. The police picked up some people along with the sarpanch on Thursday night after the two constables were kidnapped. Search operations were going around Durgi and Karempudi mandals.

The South Krishnapatti area committee secretary, Sagar, called up reporters of Karempudi and requested them to inform the police that they would set the two constables free only if Barise Kotaiah, K. China Daveedu and two others belonging to Takkellapadu were released. Barise Kotaiah is the secretary of the "grama rakshaka dalam'' of Adigoppula mandal, while Daveedu is his second-in-command. They were arrested by the police some one week ago.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ray Vinayranjan, said that the department was not ready to consider any more demands. "First let the naxalites release the constables unhurt. Then, we will consider their demands sympathetically,'' he asserted.

Incidentally, Kotaiah and Daveedu are in judicial custody in Warangal central jail and their release -- even if it were to be considered favourably -- involved a lot of procedures. The other demands of the naxalites included the release of all sympathisers and militants in police custody, withdrawal of cases on people of Katrapadu village and stoppage of combing operations.

The Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order), B.M. Ramalingeswara Rao, the IG of Greyhounds, Anurag Sharma, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ray Vinayranjan, and the Superintendent of Police, Ravishankar Ayyanar, held a series of discussions on working out the strategy.

The police do not seem to be taking the abduction lying down. Senior officials are under the impression that the naxalites "rubbed the police too much on the wrong side.'' Informed sources suggested that the Police Department decided to choose the path of offensive. At least 400 CRPF men were brought to Guntur. They would soon be deployed for anti-naxalite operations in the Palnadu area.

Talking to The Hindu, the SP doubted the credibility of the telephone call that was said to have been received by reporters in Karempudi. He said that the caller was demanding, among other things, the release of AIPRF activist, Shambabu and a MPTC member, Prabhakar, from the police custody. Dr. Ayyanar said that the two persons were let off long ago and they were not in the custody in the recent past. This demand caused doubts about the credibility of the caller. Some pseudo-naxalites might be trying to put across their demands in the garb of naxalites, taking advantage of the situation, he observed.

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

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Agonising moments for kin of victims

Irate relatives attack cabin

Sonia goes native

Governor, CM express shock over train mishap

Private varsity status for ICFAI

Naidu calls for consensus on reforms

Hostage drama continues

YSR steals the thunder

'Air Force meets new challenges'