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Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
The outlawed People's War has strengthened itself in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions.
Director General of Police Pervaram Ramulu told a two-day senior police officers' conference on Wednesday that the left-wing extremist activity continued to pose a serious threat to law and order in the state.
He said the outfit has, however, suffered serious reverses in north Telangana, which had been its stronghold for long.
He said the PW was trying to consolidate its presence in Dandakaranya, comprising parts of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
Giving an overview of left-wing extremist menace in the state, Inspector General of Police (intelligence) A Shiva Shanker said that extremist violence had shown a downtrend during the current year.
All offences by extremist groups, including the PW, had come down to 277 so far this year from 667 last year. The extremists committed 36 murders this year as against 154 last year. Only two police stations were attacked this year as against 13 last year. Three landmine blasts were triggered by the extremists this year as against 13 last year.
He said the PW was also concentrating on new recruitment. Between 1995 and 2000, the PW recruited 1,250 cadres in Andhra Pradesh. Women cadres accounted for 25 per cent of the total recruits. But 30 to 50 per cent of new recruits were leaving the PW, he claimed.
Home Minister T Devender Goud accused the People's War of trying to take advantage of the situation in the guise of holding a dialogue with the government recently. "In the garb of talks, they tried to strengthen themselves but the government thwarted their attempts. There cannot be any compromise on the issue of combating extremism and maintaining law and order in the state," he said.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also said the government was willing to hold a dialogue with the extremists.
"They [PW] want to continue armed struggle as well as hold a dialogue. But we cannot violence from any quarter. The job of the police is to maintain law and order and to deal firmly with those attempting violence and chaos. At the same time, we have announced liberal rehabilitation package for the surrendered extremists. My appeal to them [PW] is to join the mainstream," Naidu said.
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