Andhra forms conciliation panel to solve naxal issue

The new Congress government in Andhra Pradesh yesterday announced withdrawal of rewards on naxalites and constitution of a conciliation committee with eminent persons, to find a lasting solution to the vexed problem of extremism.

Making the announcement in the Legislative Assembly, state home minister K Jana Reddy said the government would soon hold a meeting with representatives of all political parties to take their suggestions on how to address the issue.

The withdrawal of rewards on the heads of naxalites killed in encounters with the police has been one of the key demands of civil rights organisations to create conducive atmosphere for reviving the dialogue process which had collapsed mid-way two years ago.

According to police sources, there are about 1,100 members of the outlawed People's War Group (PWG) who carry rewards on their heads, ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 12 lakh.

The conciliation committee, whose composition would be announced later, would strive to achieve a solution at the earliest, the minister said.

"During this period, police will not actively pursue the armed squads (of naxals) in the jungles with a view to avoid loss of human life," he said.

This is being interpreted in political circles as a go-slow approach on police encounters, addressing another important area of concern.

Reviving talks with naxalites was one of the key poll promises of Congress, which stormed to power in the state in the recent elections, riding high on anti-incumbency wave.

Soon after assuming charge, the Congress government had initiated consultations with civil rights leaders on modalities to resume the dialogue process.

It also indicated its readiness to lift ban on PWG, which has been in force since 1992 barring a year-long conditional relaxation in 1995-96.

Reddy said the government would also instruct the law and order agencies to adopt a 'positive approach towards innocent villagers or hapless sympathisers (of naxalites)'. Keeping in view the doubts expressed by civil liberties groups and some intellectuals on the 'genuineness of certain encounters', the government has decided to stop rewards onnaxalites killed in police encounters, he said.

Reiterating the appeal to extremists to join social mainstream, the minister assured the government would take all necessary steps for their rehabilitation.

"We believe that the problem (of extremism) should be viewed from a larger socio-economic perspective and tackled holistically," he said and noted that the naxalite organisation had expressed willingness for talks.

The previous TDP government had initiated preliminary, agenda-setting talks with PWG's emissaries in May-June 2002 but the extremist organisation had walked out of the dialogue process mid-way accusing the government of continuing the 'fake police encounters'.

Stating that the problem of extremist violence was a long-standing one, Reddy said 68 persons, including seven policemen, were killed in naxalite violence this year so far while 129 persons, including 13 policemen, died last year.

While police would not actively pursue the armed squads in forests, they would, however, have the responsibility of visiting villages in order to instill a sense of security and confidence among the villagers, the minister said.

"We expect extremists not to visit habitations or indulge in intimidation or extortion or other forms of violence. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that people live in peace and free from fear. We will adopt a firm but humane approach to solve the problem," he said.