Andhra Pradesh

Uneasy calm in north Telangana

By K.M. Dayashankar

KARIMNAGAR, JAN. 13. An uneasy calm prevails in the naxalite- affected north Telangana districts in general and Karimnagar district in particular, following the sudden spurt in naxalite violence in the State. Ever since the news spread about a BJP activist being shot dead by the CPI (Maoist) naxalites in Guthikonda of Guntur district, branded as `informer', politicians, including representatives of local bodies and others on naxals' hit list, living in interior villages, have shifted to a safer places in towns.

A majority of them have remained in towns and are not participating in Sankranti festivities in their respective native villages. The police have alerted several persons, who are naxalites' targets, and asked them not to venture into villages without prior information to the police.

Many politicians from different political parties and others in the district have been approaching the police for security, while those on naxals' hit-list, who already have security, have been asking for two gunmen.

Suspecting possible attack by naxalites' Action Team members, the police have deployed Counter Action Team (CAT) members to protect individual targets. The police have asked political representatives to sleep with villagers during the nights and also maintain an alarm system to alert the entire village when naxalites visit them. Police teams are on patrol at all vital installations like telephone exchanges, Government offices, etc.

The gunmen of targeted persons have been sensitised and asked to maintain vigil during their visits to villages and other places and while travelling. The police have sounded high alert in the district by intensifying vehicle checking and searching operations in the district. Following intelligence reports about naxalites conducting recce of the vulnerable police stations in forest regions, the police have fortified police stations with additional deployments.

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