Fear factor: Naxals threaten to disrupt polls

Fear factor: Naxals threaten to disrupt polls

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 (Hyderabad):

Naxals groups pulling out of peace talks in Andhra Pradesh have sent politicians in the state running for cover.

The CPI (Maoist), which has a considerable presence in Bihar and Jharkhand, has also now threatened violence in the run-up to the elections in the two states.

"Sonia Gandhiji, your party has come to power. Please look at the situation now in Andhra Pradesh. Tomorrow you are going to face elections in Bihar and Jharkhand and you are putting a gun to our head? There will be an impact there as well," said Gadar, Naxal emissary.

Living in fear

Sridhar Babu, a Congress MLA from Karimnagar district says local politicians are terrified.

His father, Sripada Rao, a former speaker of the Andhra Pradesh assembly, was killed by Naxals in 1999. Babu says the end of dialogue means the return to the era of constantly living under fear.

"The situation is volatile and when things get hot, they will be the first people to be targetted," said D Sridhar Babu, Congress MLA.

Terror tactics

The Naxals have directed political functionaries to either quit or face the consequences. So most people will be forced to avoid moving in rural areas.

The fear factor cuts across party lines because the much-strengthened CPI (Maoist) has emerged as the most deadly and powerful extremist force in the country, spread across several states.

This is precisely what intelligence reports have warned for a long time.

from AP