Date:18/01/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/18/stories/2004011801660500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Molestation case against two naxals

By Our Stafd Reporter

ADILABAD, JAN. 17. The Tiryani police in Bellampalli sub-division have booked cases against two People's War naxalites, including a section commander of the PGA, for allegedly molesting two minor tribal girls of Rompalli village a few days ago.

The two minor girls studying in ST residential schools in different villages were lured by the naxals that they would be recruited into the banned outfit. The girls were met by two naxals frequently and taken into the forests on the pretext of meeting the dalams and sexually assaulted on four occasions. The Bellampalli DSP, G.Satyanarayana, on Saturday, produced the two victims before newsmen at Bellampalli. The girls narrated how they were cheated and sexually assaulted by the two naxals. The girls who were desperate to join the underground outfit, were carried away by the false promises made by the naxals. It all began about six months ago, when the NTSZC member, Chandranna, and other PW leaders visited Rompalli village and held a meeting. These two girls also participated in the meeting and evinced interest in joining the party.

The two girls -- aged about 14 years -- are studying in Ginnedhari and Rompalli ST residential schools. Two months ago, the section commander of Seventh platoon, Bollam Rajanarsu alias Balanna and District action team member, Naveen, visited Sathiguda hamlet of Rompalli village to meet the girls. The naxals allegedly took away the two girls to the forest stating that they would be taken into the underground outfit. Instead, they stopped in the forest and allegedly sexually assaulted them. They were sent back to the village on the pretext that they would be taken into the PW after some time.

The two naxals then visited the village thrice and took away the girls and molested them. The girls then decided to confront the duo and planned to meet the dalam. The two girls then narrated the incident to a elderly person in the village, who took them to the Tiryani police station, where a complaint was lodged.

The girls were brought to Bellampalli today and produced before media. The Bellampalli DSP said this was not the first time that the naxals had molested dalam members. On two occasions, the PW leadership had punished erring naxals, who allegedly molested women cadres. One former naxalite, who surrendered was shot dead by the PW and in the note left behind by them, they accused the victim of sexually harassing women cadres.

The police sent the two girls for medical examination and booked a case against the two naxals for allegedly molesting the minors. The Adilabad SP, Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat, promised to provide all possible assistance to the victims. The police advised tribal girls not to fall prey to false promises of naxalites. The Tandur CI, Tajuddin, was entrusted with the investigation.