Andhra Pradesh

Naxal documents reveal plans to attack police stations

By Our Staff Reporter

WARANGAL, FEB. 17. With naxalites out to attack police stations in the district, police officials are a worried lot. Of the 58 police stations, 20 are found vulnerable.

Having recovered sketches and plans of various police stations from the recent encounter sites, the officials are discussing ways and means to protect these police stations. The sketches of Mangapet, Kothaguda and Tadvai stations were recovered from Rampur encounter site on January 16. In February, another sketch of Chityal police station was recovered from Ontigudesa village of Mulugu mandal where an exchange of fire took place.

The documents indicate that the naxals have plans to attack police stations wherever possible. They succeeded in the attack on Eturunagaram police stations on July 27, 2001, first time using directional mines. Three policemen and two civilians lost their lives in the attack. They also succeeded in attacking Hanamkonda police station on July 27, 2001, and Tirumalgherry police station in Nalgonda. The naxals had made a vain attempt on Karepally police station in Khammam district in 1999.

The policemen are in a difficult position, as they cannot move out of the stations for the fear of landmines nor can they be at peace at the stations due to naxalites' threat.

Change in strategy

The naxals have changed their strategy. Instead of terrifying policemen by hurling grenades and later decamping with arms and ammunition, they are now only aiming at inflicting losses. This is being done to build up the morale of the cadre and to prevent loss on their side.

According to sources, the naxals, who have declared the forest area of the district as part of the guerilla zone, want it to be free of police presence, particularly the police stations. The attacks on Motu police station in Orrissa and Kistaram police station in Dantewada district of Chattigarh form part of the strategy.

According to sources, Moists who have been on recruitment spree for the last nine months, have trained 100 members at Chattisgarh.

The naxals have also secured compact discs featuring the `guerrilla warfare' and `use of land mines'. The CDs and laptop computers were recovered by the police at Rampur encounter site where the Maoists had lost two of their legal cadre and latest weapons recently.

The naxal,s who are going ahead with recruitment, mobilisation of money and acquisition of weapons, are planning to equip the cadre who can engage the police for five hours in case of a major encounter.

The police may find it very difficult in such case with the `inadequate staff' and `weaponry', which may not match that of the naxalites.

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