Date:08/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/08/stories/2008030857270300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Widow gets ex gratia after 30 years

Staff Reporter

Adilabad SP Anil Kumar handing over a cheque to Ramakka.

ADILABAD: It was a happy moment for Ramakka widow of Kammala Ashok when small ex gratia of Rs. 20,000 that was handed over to her by Adilabad Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar on Friday, nearly 30 years after her husband was killed by naxalites. He was one among the four murdered by naxalites at Tapalpur village in Jannaram mandal on November 7, 1976.

Having learnt about the sensational Tapalpur murder case after accused and top naxalite Tushar Kanti Bhattacharya was arrested two months ago, Mr. Anil Kumar’s curiosity took him to Jannaram police station. On studying the case file, he found the naxalites had no apparent reason to murder Ashok.

No motive

His interaction with the widow brought out the fact that Ashok was murdered because he simply happened to live in front of the house of Pitambar Rao who was in the hit list of the extremists. He also came to know that the family had not got any financial assistance so far from the Government.

He promptly wrote to the Government seeking some help for the poor family and got a positive response.