Maoists deliver a big blow to Andhra Pradesh
By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad : The latest attack by the outlawed Communist Party of India Maoist on the border of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, targeting the elite Greyhound commando force and the police personnel has left the security machinery reeling under its severe impact.
More than 36 hours after the Maoist rebels ambushed a launch brining sixty security personnel from Orissa back to Andhra Pradesh, 35 Greyhound commandos were still missing and hopes for them were fading.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy expressed fears that they might have drowned when the launch sank after the attack of Maoists on Sunday morning. “Those who were sitting at open places in the boat could jump in to the water and swim to safety but those sitting inside the cabins could not come out and they might have drowned”, he said.
Reddy who visited the scene of the incident in Machkund reservoir on the borders of AP and Orissa, told the media that the Maoists had opened fire on the boat from two hillocks on either side when the launch was passing through a narrow place. “our brave Greyhound commandos could swim for several kms to reach the safety with fractured limbs”, he said.
After the day long search on Tuesday involving six helicopters and several divers from the Indian navy, four dead bodies could be recovered. They were found near Yellampaka. “There are fears that other bodies could be stuck in the boat”, he said.
The search team could not establish the exact place where the launch had sunk. The reservoir was 40 deep at that place.
Giving the details of the incident, the director general of police SSP Yadav said that as the commandos were taking position to retaliate against the Maoist, the boat tilted on one side and capsized. “Only 25 of our people could come out safely”, he said.
The incident has turned out to be the worst setback for the security forces of Andhra Pradesh because never in the four decade long history of left wing violence in the state so many police men fell victim in one single attack.
For the Maoist, who had formed State Militia Commission less than two weeks ago to carry our major attacks, the success of this operation has come as a shot in the arm after a long time. Though geographically the incident happened on Orissa territory where the Maoists are still active, their worst enemy Andhra Pradesh was hit badly in the attack.
The Andhra Pradesh government with its Greyhound command force in the forefront was able to establish its clear supremacy over the CPI Maoist in almost all parts of the state during last four years and the area of influence is now restricted to certain parts of Visakhapatnam and Khammam districts bordering Chattisgarh and Orissa. Maoist’ deadly blow came at a time when they were celebrating anti police week till July 2.
Greyhound, which has received compliments from the central government for its success in anti Maoist operations, have also been taking part in joint combing operations in the two neighboring states and in a recent operation in Chattisgarh district, they killed 17 Maoists including many senior leaders.
But the Chief Minister Reddy said that Maoist can not see this incident as their victory . “If they think so it is their illusion and a mistake. There is no place for violence and extremism in a democracy”, he said.
The state Home Minister K Jana Reddy went a step further and said, “a retaliation by the Greyhound commandos soon is inevitable”.