State News And Discussion - II

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http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story....t_id=67777

Rested, AP Naxals walk out on peace

HYDERABAD, NEW DELHI, APRIL 4: Rested and re-equipped, Andhra Naxalites today made it clear they were no longer interested in talks with the YSR Reddy government which had shackled its own police squads chasing the Left wing extremists.

With the Naxal leadership back in safe havens, the emissaries hit out at the Congress government in the state and announced that they too were pulling out of talks.

‘‘It is very clear that the Congress government has slammed the doors on talks process and started implementing fascist policies. Its talk of continuing negotiations is a farce,’’ Maoist emissaries Varavara Rao, Gadar and Kalyan Rao said in a statement in Hyderabad.

The statement comes after the CPI (Maoist) and other extremist organisations announced on January 17 that they were withdrawing from the peace talks in protest against ‘‘fake police encounters and combing operations’’.

‘‘We also understand that moves are on to impose a ban on Maoist organisations in eight states where the Naxalite movement is strong,’’ the emissaries said today.

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What the emissaries didn’t say and what the Centre doesn’t like to admit is that there has been an ominous rise of Left wing extremism in 76 districts in nine states. Police in every state have been warning their governments that the situation is fast spinning out of control.
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North Block’s own documents show that the number of incidents this year (until March 15) total 405 as opposed to 346 that took place during the same period last year. The number of policemen killed has climbed to 43 as against 16 for the same period in 2004.

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In Andhra Pradesh, civilian casualties— in other states combating Naxalism, it has reduced somewhat from 109 to 87— have risen: from 39 in 2004 to 51 this year.
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The surge in violence has left the Andhra police with no other option except go after the Maoists. According to senior AP police officials, the withdrawal of Naxalite emissaries from the talks has more to do with their fear of being targeted by their own cadres who are under pressure from the police.

‘‘We will engage the Naxalites so that the law and order situation in the state does not deteriorate. To us, upholding the rule of law is bigger priority than a peace dialogue,’’ a senior state police official said.