Date:01/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/01/stories/2005040105860500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Medak police on high alert

By Our Staff Reporter

SANGAREDDY, MARCH 31. Anticipating a major showdown by Maoists in the district following killing of seven ex militants by the ultras within 45 days, the Medak police are on high alert.

Senior police officers opine that a significant number of surrendered militants, who are still maintaining good relations with the Maoist outfits, may used by the latter for the special purpose. Senior officers seeking anonymity say that the recent announcement by the Maoists that `dead bodies of the alleged informers will not be released' is a ploy and they are kept alive for use in underground operations.

Following the killings that began on February 25, the police have increased their presence in the Dubbaka, Mirdoddi, Kolcharam and Toopran mandals of Medak and Siddipet sub-divisions.

Speaking to The Hindu , the Superintendent of Police, B.L. Sujatha Rao, said that a large number of police force could not made be available for patrolling in troubled villages for a long period. Peace should return to villages, he said.

He denied allegations that police had used any of those believed to be dead as informers. He said that search was still going on for the missing ex militants -- Kistaiah and Anjaneyulu of Islampur. The IG, Ratna Reddy, reviewed the situation arising out of a series of killings by the Maoists at the DSP office in Toopran. He, along with the Nizamabad-Medak range DIG, Anjani Kumar, the SP, B.L. Sujatha Rao, and circle inspectors of Ramayampet, Toopran and Narsapur held a two- hour meeting. It is said that a strategy had been evolved in dealing with the threat to former militants.