Red alert sounded in state

A Red Alert has been sounded in the State in the wake of the Maoist attack on CRPF men in Dantewada of Chhattisgarh.

The director general of police, Mr R.R. Girish Kumar, said that vigil was up in all districts and steps were being taken to thwart any attempts by Maoists to create trouble.

Combing has been intensified the borders with Orissa and Chattisgarh and district superintendents of police and commissioners of have been asked to step up security for targets including politicians and policemen.

“Maoists may get emboldened with this attack,” said a senior police officer. “The underground cadre in hibernation in the State may become active.”

Meanwhile, experts termed the Tuesday attack as an instance of the Maoist plan to convert their mobile guerrilla warfare into a static or positional battle.

“They could hole up in the area from morning to afternoon and they could prevent the rescue operations as well as attempts to save the injured,” said a senior cop.

“They even blew up the mine proof vehicle.”

Meanwhile Balladeer Gaddar said the aggressive attitude of the home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, was responsible for the situation.

“Only 20 to 30 Maoists take part in operations and the rest are people supporting them,” he said.

The former director general of police, Mr P. Ramulu, demanded action against the local SP and the collector for not providing support to the CRPF men.

At the same time, the president of the revolutionary writers association (Virasam) Mr Chalasani Prasad, and district president of Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee, Mr T. Srirama Murthy, said a public meeting would be held in Bhadrachalam on April 11 demanding withdrawal of Operation Green Hunt which was targeting innocent tribals.