Date:15/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/15/stories/2006031509440600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Maoists' threat to Congress over `fake encounters'

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Maoists have threatened to target workers and leaders of the ruling party to protest against what they termed as `fake encounters' in which 10 persons had been shot dead by the police during the last ten days. They have also called upon its workers and members of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) to step up attacks to destroy the police informant network and `punish' the Congress workers. The warning was issued by Janardhan, official spokesman of the CPI (Maoist) in Andhra Pradesh.

In a press release sent to media offices on Tuesday, Mr. Janardhan accused the Congress Government of supporting the `brutal and cold blooded killings' by the police. The justification of the Chief Minister and the Home Minister of the `fake killings' spoke of the Congress culture, he said.