The Hindu : Minister non-committal on PW demand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Minister non-committal on PW demand

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA APRIL 6. The Andhra Pradesh Home Minister, T. Devender Goud, on Sunday remained non-committal on the naxalites' demand for the release of its five arrested cadre in exchange for the abducted Prakasam policemen now in the custody of the People's War.

He cited the Supreme Court's observations in the forest brigand Veerappan's case as a defence, to hint that the Government might not buckle under pressure. The court in the Veerappan case had passed strictures against the Karnataka Government for frequently releasing followers of the forest brigand whenever the latter abducted individuals and sought the release of his own men as a precondition for the hostages' safety.

He refused to give any categorical assurance on the naxalites' demand saying that the issue needed to be discussed by the Government threadbare before taking any decision.

``We are also conscious of the court's ruling in the case against such release. As such we have to explore the issues from various angles. The issue will be discussed with the Chief Minister and other officials before we arrive at any decision,'' he said in an informal conversation with reporters here.

To a question, he said the Government was exploring various options to deal with the situation including sending some mediators.

He appealed to naxalites not to harm the hostages as all abducted police personnel were on bandobast duties for the annual `jatra.'

The Minister appeared evasive on the controversy relating to the application of POTA against the Congress MLA, Konda Surekha, by the Warangal police. Initially, the Minister asserted that the MLA was booked under POTA by the police based on the "evidences'' collected against her.

However, when it was pointed out that the Chief Minister himself had assured that the POTA charge would be dropped against the legislator, Mr. Goud hastened to add that the Government would now examine the various other provisions of the IPC that could be applied against Mrs. Surekha.

Newspaper offices attacked

The policemen kidnapping episode took a new twist with members of police families, mostly women, on Sunday, simultaneously, raiding offices of a multi-edition Telugu daily here and at Markapur. They also beat up a photographer, protesting against a news item which is allegedly against the abducted policemen.

Between 100 and 120 members went on the rampage at the daily's office here and destroyed flower pots, windowpanes, furniture and damaged wind screens of a car belonging to the office manager. They also burnt copies of the paper and shouted slogans against it.

The photographer was manhandled when he tried to take snaps of the incident. The riot went on for about 40 minutes. Police, who rushed to the spot, did not try to stop the crowd.

The staff of the daily alleged that police personnel themselves incited the attackers and watched. Family members of the kidnapped policemen reportedly raided the daily's PC centre at Markapur this evening.

The provocation seemed to be the publication of a news item in the district edition of the daily today.

A report from Karimnagar said PW naxalites axed to death a 75-year-old farmer, U. Bakkanna, and later opened a round of fire, at Mogilipeta village of Mallapur mandal this morning.

According to the Jagtial DSP, T Satyanarayana Reddy, the naxalites went to the mango groves where Bakanna was taking care of his crop and axed him to death. Later, they also opened one round of fire to make sure that he was dead. A note was left at the site in the name of the PW militia stating that they had resorted to this act as the victim was close to a landlord, became a member of the Police Maithri Sangham .

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