Monday, July 24, 2006
Andhrapradesh Regional News July 25th,2006
Farmers lay siege to collectorate
Kurnool, July 24: Hundreds of farmers led by former Nandikotkur MLA Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy laid siege to the district collectorate on Monday in protest against the closure of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme sluices.
Mr Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy took up one-day hu-nger strike demanding that the government open the RDS sluices and protect the farmers of Kurnool and Kadapa districts. Hundreds of farmers from Kurnool, Adoni, Yemmiganur, Kod-umuru, Nandikotkur, Atma-kur Assembly constituencies gathered here in the morning and laid siege to the collectorate.
The protest continued till evening. The farmers took an oath that they would continue their agitation till the government opened the RDS sluices. The farmers criticised the State government for turning a blind eye to the increase in non-ayacut area in Karnataka and picturing the farmers of Kurnool-Cuddapah canal as robbers.
If the government is committed to the welfare of farmers, it should immediately curb increase in non ayacut area in Karnataka State by opening the sluices, they said. Farmers fear that the entire K-C canal would become useless with the closure of sluices and the farming community would suffer huge losses and demanded that the government open sluices.
Addressing the protesters, formers MLA from Nandikotkur Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy called upon the farmers to prepare themselves for a massive agitation for the opening of RDS sluices. He cited the blackmail tactics of the Telangana leaders as the reason for the closure of RDS sluices. The problem has cropped up due to lack of proper knowledge on RDS issue, he said.
Mr Byreddy said that the closure of sluices would only benefit Karnataka and not Telangana region. Far-mers raised slogans deman-ding the opening of sluices and ensure sufficient water to ayacut areas in Kurnool and Kadapa districts. Former mayor Bangi Ananthaiah, TD corporator Thota Venkat Krishna Reddy and others participated.
Farmers lay siege to collectorate
Kurnool, July 24: Hundreds of farmers led by former legislator from Nandikotkur Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy laid siege to the district collectorate on Monday in protest against the closure of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme sluices.
Mr Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy took up one-day hunger strike demanding that the government open the RDS sluices and protect farmers of Kurnool and Kadapa districts. Hundreds of farmers from Kurnool, Adoni, Yemmiganur, Kodumuru, Nandikotkur, Atmakur Assembly constituencies gathered here in the morning and laid siege to the collectorate. The protest continued till evening.
The farmers took an oath that they would continue their agitation till the government opened the RDS sluices. The farmers criticised the State government for turning a blind eye to the increase in non-ayacut area in Karnataka State and picturing the farmers of Kurnool-Cuddapah canal as robbers.
If the government is committed to the welfare of farmers, it should immediately curb increase in non-ayacut area in Karnataka by opening the sluices, they said. Farmers fear that the entire K-C canal would become useless with the closure of sluices and the farming community would suffer huge losses and demanded that the government open sluices.
Addressing the protesters, former MLA from Nandikotkur Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy called upon the farmers to prepare themselves for a massive agitation for the opening of RDS sluices.
He cited the blackmail tactics of the Telangana leaders as the reason for the closure of RDS sluices. The problem has cropped up due to lack of proper knowledge on RDS issue, he said. Mr Byreddy said that the closure of sluices would only benefit Karnataka and not Telangana region.
Farmers raised slogans demanding the opening of sluices and ensure sufficient water to ayacut areas in Kurnool and Kadapa districts. Former mayor Bangi Ananthaiah, TD corporator Thota Venkat Krishna Reddy and others participated.
1,949 in fray for sarpanch elections
Kurnool, July 24: After the withdrawal of nominations on Sunday, candidates left in the fray for panchayat sarpanch polls began their election campaign on Monday. It may be mentioned that polls for the election of panchayat sarpanches and ward members are slated for July 29, August 2, 3 and August 6.
Of the total 898 village panchayats in the districts, elections are being held for 879 as the tenure of their elected bodies will end by October this year. Polls are not being conducted for 19 panchayats whose tenure will not end this year. Among the 879 panchayats, 183 have elected their sarpanches unanimously obviating the need for conducting polls. In the remaining 696 panchayats, 1,949 candidates are in the fray for panchayat posts.
For the 9,150 wards in these villages, 3,107 elected their representatives without contest. A total of 13,255 persons are vying for the remaining 6,026 wards. Though elections are supposedly non-partisan, almost all the candidates are portraying themselves as candidate of one party or another during their campaign.
Activists and leaders of major political parties are busy garnering support to their sarpanch and ward member candidates. A notable aspect of the campaign is that rather than presenting themselves in a positive way, many contestants are bent on getting their rival disqualified thro-ugh submitting evidence to election authorities on the alleged violations of their rivals.
This negative phenomenon in the campaign is vitiating the atmosphere in the villages where the situation is already tense due to the recent ZPTC and MPTC polls.
Dams receive huge inflows
Kurnool, July 24: Heavy inflows of floodwaters into Tungabhadra and Srisailam dams brought much needed relief to the farmers in Rayaseema region. Farming activity has come to standstill in the region due to lack of rains.
The water level is gradually increasing in Srisailam and Tungabhadra reservoirs following heavy rains in the catchment areas in Karnataka. Water level at Tungabhadra dam has increased sharply in the last one week.
Inflows into Srisailam reservoir has also increased. On Monday evening, the water level at Tungabhadra dam reached 1629.873 feet against the maximum level of 1,633 ft while the storage capacity stood at 92.678 tmc feet against the total capacity of 111 tmc ft. The dam is receiving 44,000 cusecs of floodwaters while 6,581 cusecs of water is being released into various canals.
If the present inflows of floodwaters continue for another two days, the entire gates would be lifted and water would be released downstream, Tungabhadra dam officials said. Similarly, the Srisailam reservoir saw heavy inflows of floodwaters. The reservoir is receiving 1.3 lakh cusecs of water while 64,840 cusecs is being released downstream through hydel power production.
Officials said that 6,570 cusecs of water is being released through the Pothireddypadu head regulator. Meanwhile, officials sounded flood alert in Tungabhadra river catchment areas as there are chances of lifting gates of Tungabhadra dam in the next two days. Officials asked people to move to safer places.
Polls set excise coffers ringing
Nellore, July 24: It is a known fact that cash and liquor play a major role in deciding the fate of contesting candidates, whether it is the general elections, local body elections or panchayat elections. The liquor sales registers of the district provide enough proof for the role of liquor during elections. The recent elections to local bodies and panchayats has come as a shot in the arm for the excise department which exceeded its targets.
The department made Rs 12 crore over its normal sales during the just concluded local body elections, and it has already made Rs 16.50 crore till Sunday and is anticipating to make another Rs 5 crore in the next 10 days by when the election process would come to an end.
Excise Superintendent of Nellore division Mr Narayana Reddy said that sale was up by 30 per cent over the corresponding period last year. Contrary to apprehensions over a possible drop in sales owing to increase in the upset price, the cash register is showing upward trends apparently because of elections.
The department registered a sale of Rs 49.76 crore for three months between April 2005 to June 2005 in the district and the sale increased to Rs 59.83 crore during the corresponding period this year.
A legislator of the district said that it had become a custom to provide liquor and non-vegetarian food to people following leaders during electioneering unlike never before. He said that contestants had been spending anywhere between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh even for the elections of sarpanch of minor panchayats.
“This way we have got to be ready with Rs 3 to Rs 5 crore if we have to contest in the next general elections,” the MLA said, referring to a number of villages falling under each Assembly segment. He said that he had spent Rs 40 lakh to win the election last time. “This amount is peanuts if I decide to be in the fray once again,” he quipped.
Media persons stranded in forest
Markapuram, July 24: Scribes, photographers and videographers working for both the print and electronic media stranded in the thick Nallamala forests in Yerragondapalem mandal of Prakasam district on Monday night when they went to cover the encounter incident in which eight Maoists including Maoist committee State secretary Madhav were killed.
The difficult journey on the truck passes through thick forests covered by bushes, trees and boulders in Yerragondapalem Mandal. The encounter site is located between Palutla and Nekkanti Chenchugudem villages.
Over 20 reporters and photographers left Markapuram town at 9 am on Monday and reached Palutla village around 4 p.m. Later, they began a journey to the site on foot in the area covered by hills, trees and huge boulders.
They reportedly reached the site after sunset and are likely to return Markapuram in the early hours of Tuesday or in the afternoon. Greyhound forces also accompanied the scribes. The bodies of the slain Maoists are likely be brought to Markapuram in the same vehicle in which the scribes will return to the town.
Reporters and photographers from Markapuram, Ongole and Vijayawada went to cover the event. As the encounter site is located in very thick deep forests, police also remained helpless.The one chartered chopper could airlift a limited number of officials and photographers in the morning.
Unfortunately, they could not communicate to their colleagues, police and family members over mobile phones due to lack of a communication system in the forests.
Improved intelligence helped us, says SP
Ongole, July 24: The powerful information network that the police developed in the Nallamala forest areas during the past few months was the secret behind Sunday’s successful encounter in which they killed eight Maoists including State committee secretary Madhav on Sunday.
Prakasam district SP Balasubramanyam said on Monday that the information system, planning and successful operation by special party forces were the reasons behind the success encounter.
Mr Balasubramanyam said that the police had received specific and authentic information on the meeting of Maoists on Sunday. Markapuram officer on special duty Ranganath gave accurate directions to execute the operation, the SP said.
The SP denied reports that Greyhounds were shifted by helicopter to the spot for the encounter. He said that these could not carry 20 to 25 men for each sortie; it was impossible to mobilise parties with helicopters. Police were taking help from surrendered Maoists and informers to get information on the movements of Maoists, he said.
Tight security for local polls
Kakinada, July 24: The district police administration is taking all precautions for the smooth conduct of panchayat polls in East Godavari district, said SP B. Srinivasulu on Monday.
He revealed that the department was making all arrangements for the polls to be conducted in three phases in the district on July 29, August 2 and August 6. In the first phase, elections are to be conducted in Peddapuram and Rampachodavaram divisions, in the second phase in Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Ramach-andrapuram area, and in the final phase, the polls are to be held in Amalapuram area.
In the first phase of elections in the Rampachodavaram, special precautions are being taken in view of the Naxalite threat, the SP added. For the conduct of the first phase of elections, 2,055 police personal are being deployed in addition to the 685 from Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
The police department has recognised 79 Naxalite-affected areas, 50 hypersensitive villages and 71 sensitive villages in the Agency region, the SP said. He added that in view of the Naxal threat, 19 special striking forces and 19 additional striking forces would be put into use. In the second phase of elections for Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Ramachandrapuram, 113 hypersensitive villages. 112 sensitive villages and two Naxal-affected villages have been marked.
For these areas, 23 special striking forces and 23 striking forces would be utilised in addition to the force from the district and other districts of Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. In the final phase of election for Amalapuram division, special security arrangements are being made in the 91 hypersensitive villages and 92 sensitive villages.
Special striking forces numbering 32 are being deployed in addition to the regular force. The SP disclosed that 1,493 bind-over cases were booked on trouble-makers for peaceful conduct of the polls. Out of them, 424 are rowdy-sheeters and the remaining 1,069 are those who created trouble during the previous elections.
6 cops served charge memos
Eluru, July 24: West Godavari district superintendent of police M. Jaganmohan Reddy served charge memos to a circle inspector, two sub-inspectors and three constables for dereliction of duty on Monday.
Bhimadole circle inspector M.J.V. Bhaskara Rao, Dendulur SI B. Shyam Sundar, Dwarakatirumala SI K.T.T.V. Ramana Rao, Dw-arakatirumala in-charge he-ad constable N. Rambabu and constables D.V.R. Murthy and K. Muttaiah were served charge memos.
The SP made surprise visits to Bhimadole and Dwa-rakatirumala mandals on Sunday night and found the sale of liquor beyond the permitted time limit. The SP raided several hotels located along the national highway falling under Dendulur police station limits and seized liquor stocks.
The owners of the hotels, A. Venkateswara Rao, Ch. Ramesh and M. Adinarayana were arrested. Later, the SP inspected Dwarakatirumala police station and checked the night beat records upto 3 am. He found anomalies in the mai-ntenance of records and warned of stern action aga-inst those responsible if they failed to mend their ways.
Unanimity is name of the game
Nizamabad/ Warangal/ Adilabad, July 24: The incentives announced by the State government that Rs 5 lakh would be granted to ea-ch gram panchayat that ele-cts its body unanimously evoked good response in Nizamabad, Warangal and Adilabad districts.A total of 93 gram panchayats elected their bodies unanimously in Nizamabad district.
The district panchayat office has decided to conduct elections to 681 gram panchayats in Nizamabad, Bodhan and Kamareddy revenue sub-divisions in three phases. Of them, 41 gram panchayats in Nizamabad division, 22 in Bodhan division and 30 in Kamareddy division elected their bodies including sarpanches and ward members unanimously after the withdrawal of nominations on Sunday. Elections to the remaining 568 gram panchayats will be held as per schedule.
Responding to a query, so-urces said that they were yet to receive a specific GO fr-om State government regar-ding incentives for unanim-ously elected panchayats.In Warangal district too, a total of 106 villages have witnessed unanimous election for sarpanch posts.
The district authorities will now conduct elections in only 864 gram panchayats and a total of 2,678 candidates are in fray. The Warangal revenue division accounted for the election of 20 sarpanches unanimously, followed by 19 in Jangaon, 16 in Mahbubabad and 14 in Narsampet division.
Similarly, 1,688 ward members were also got unanimously elected in the district, while the elections for a total of 8,161 wards will be held in three phases.
Elections will be held on July 29 in gram panchayats under the Mulug division. Elections will be held on August 2 in the second phase in Mahbubabad and Narsampet divisions and on August 6 in Warangal and Jangaon division in the third phase.
Collector K. Damayanti and district panchayat officer Kondal Rao stated that elaborate arrangements were made for the free and fair elections in the district.
While in Adilabad district, as many as 62 gram panchayats out of 864 have elected their sarpanches and ward members unanimously in the gram panchayat election in the district.
District panchayat officer Adellu told this correspondent on Monday that 70 gram panchayats have selected their sarpanches and ward members unanimously, according to information received so far from the revenue divisional officers. He said that rewards would be awarded to such gram panchayats as the concerned minister announced recently.
Cops plan to exploit sentiments of tribals
Warangal, July 24: Trying to exploit the sentiments of tribal people that were hurt after the Erraboru massacre in Chattisgarh, the district police launched a publicity war against Maoists. The police has erected a peace memorial at Kakatiya University cross roads here in memory of the Erraboru victims.
Besides erecting the peace memorial, which will permanently remind the tribals of the massacre carried against them, the police have also taken up publicity shows to create awareness among tribals.
The message (read brainwash) that they want to convey to the tribals is that though they were giving shelter and offering food to the Naxalites they continued to kill the tribals.
Pasting the posters depicting the Erraboru massacre was also one among the strategies. Distributing pamphlets on the massacre and performing skits on the incident were also planned by the police.
Alert sounded at police stations
Nizamabad, July 24: Superintendent of Police Mahesh Chandra Laddha alerted DSPs, circle inspectors and sub-inspectors of 44 police stations in the district, following the encoun-ter in which eight Maoists were killed in Prakasam district on Sunday.
Director general of police Swarnjit Sen issued instructions to the Nizamabad SP to alert all police stations, in view of the major encoun-ter that occur-red in Prakasam district. He warned that Maoists might attack police stations.
The deputy inspector general of police and the SP along wi-th the officer on special du-ty and additional SP should hold an emergency meeting in the district headquarters to issue instructions to all the police stations.
Responding to the DGP’s instructions, Mr Laddha asked all the DSPs working in Nizamabad, Bodhan, Armoor and Kamareddy to alert police stations under their jurisdiction. No police personnel from constable to sub-inspector should go alone outside, because the Maoists may take revenge. Policemen should not spend time either at hotels or other areas like bus stops and public places, alone.
Instructions were also given to police personnel to utilise the services of surrendered militants in the respective police stations to easily identify Maoist-related persons. The sub-inspector should also maintain contacts with these ex-militants to obtain information regarding the movement of Maoists every hour. These instructions were particularly important for police stations under Kamareddy police sub-divisional area.
Two end lives due to HIV stigma
Karimnagar, July 24: A 75-year-old man committed suicide along with his granddaughter unable to bear the death of his daughter due to AIDS at Pogakupalli village in Timmapur mandal of this district on Sunday midnight. The girl too contracted HIV virus and her health condition was worsening.
According to sources, a 35-year-old HIV patient died at her father’s residence at Pogakulapalli on Sunday midnight. Perturbed over the death of his daughter and deteriorating health of his seven-year-old granddaughter, the old man reportedly administered poison to the girl and consumed the same late in the night.
Sources in the village said they died within few hours. The incident came to light on Monday morning when the milkman opened the entrance door of the house and found the bodies of the three in the front room.
The police have registered a case and are investigating. The woman married to a man of Chigurumamidi village about eight years ago, reportedly acquired the killer infection from him and subsequently passed it on to her daughter during the birth, sources said. Two years after marriage the man deserted her. The woman moved to her father’s house along with her daughter unable to face isolation from her in-laws.
Battle lines drawn for local polls
Vijayawada, July 24: The contesting candidates in the panchayat elections have intensified their campaign as the deadline is fast approaching. The election for over 281 panchayats under Nuzvid revenue division would be held on July 29 followed by in 238 panchayats of Vijayawada division on August 2 in the second phase.
The third and final phase of elections would be held for 445 panchayats under Gudivada and Machilipatnam divisions on August 6. With only five days left for the voters to decide the fate of the candidates, those in the race have intensified their campaign.
As the number of voters and the area to be covered by each candidate is limited, they are holding door-to-door campaign even in the night. The election being a local issue, it is prestigious for the candidates as they would remain with the people for the next five years, be it a victory or defeat.
The use of money, liquor and small gifts are the vote-catching devices that are being highly circulated in the villages. According to sources, the candidates are paying Rs 100 for each vote, besides a liquor bottle to the male voter and some kitchen utensils for a female voter.
The Nuzvid revenue division has four Assembly segments, Nuzvid, Tiruvur, Gannavaram and Vuyyur, besides two mandals from the neighbouring Mylavaram segment. However, the legislators, who have tasted unexpected victories and defeats in the just concluded zilla parishad and mandal parishad elections are silent in this round of elections leaving the battle to the local leaders.
Though the inactive role being played by the legislators hurt the local leaders, the candidates appear to be undeterred as the voters are familiar to them.
Hoax call holds up work at court
Khammam, July 24: A hoax call from an anonymous person stalled the work in the district court on Monday. Police personnel led by divisional superintendent of police R.D.S. Bhandari made a frantic search for three hours, but they did not find any explosives on the premises of the court.
The anonymous caller who rang up to an employee of the court at 10.30 am informed that a bomb which was planted in the court would explode at 1.30 pm. The caller did not give any other details and held up. The information was passed on to the police. The police requested the court officials to vacate the premises and swung into action. But, they had not find any bomb in the court.
ZP chief assures to help farmers
Machilipatnam, July 24: Zilla Parishad chairman Kukkala Nageswara Rao said on Monday that he has taken up the post of ZP chairman with an objective of developing the district. Speaking to mediapersons, he said he would give top priority for the development of education. He also said that he would strive to reach the farmers and farm labourers with the various schemes being implemented by the government.
He said he would take special care for the development of the agriculture sector as the district is dependent mainly on it. Re-garding Machilipatnam po-rt, Mr Nageswara Rao expressed hope that it wou-ld be developed during the next five years.
He said that he would commence exports and imports as the head of the SK Shipping Company if minimum facilities are provided in the port. Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad was also present.
Copying: Court acquits accused
Guntur, July 24: Court acquitted all the accused in the sensational case of malpractice in Eamcet, in which cellphone was used for copying. Guntur special mobile magistrate, G. Lakshmi Narasimha Reddy quashed the case since the prosecution failed to prove their charges.
According to the prosecution, G. Veerababu, the prime accused in the case, took Eamcet exam for medical stream on April 26, 2003. On a tip- off a police team arrested 10 persons on the charge of sending answers through a landline. However, the accused were acquitted for lack of proof.
Naxal caste war out in open, says Satyamoorthy
Vijayawada, July 24: The circumstances of the enco-unter death of Madhav, AP Maoists State committee secretary, on Sunday are surprising, observers said. Madhav’s predecessor, Akkiraju Haragopal alias Ramakrishna, was surrounded by the anti-Naxal Greyhounds twice in the past. He escaped once but the second time Maoist representatives prevailed upon the government to give him safe passage. This was not done for Madhav which is surprising, observers said.
The Maoist State committee secretary is surrounded by five layers of security, among them a suicide squad that is ready to kill and get killed to protect their leader. Such youth were found in dozens when Ramakrishna came overground to participate in talks with the government.
These securitymen appea-red to be mysteriously missing in Madhav’s case. Prakasam district superintendent of police Balasubrahmanyam told this correspondent that Madhav’s se-curity personnel could not retaliate as the Maoists we-re running short of gelatine sticks and other explosives.
Observers said that the SP’s opinion did not comp-letely explain why Madhav was so poorly protected. Co-founder of the naxal movement in the State K.G. Satyamoorthy told this correspondent that the absence of security for Madhav showed the increasing caste politics in the organisation.
Mr Satyamoorthyy found fault with Maoists spoke-spersons for failing to get to avert the encounter as they had done in the past to protect Ramakrishna. “It clearly shows that the party has caste politics playing a dominant role which also led to my exit. Some upper caste leaders in the organisation were unable to digest Madhav as State secretary,” he said. He said that the killing of the State secretary in an encounter showed that the “movement is on its death bed.”
North coast put on high alert
Visakhapatnam, July 24: The major encounter in Nallamala forests, which claimed the life of State secretary of the Maoists, triggered off high alert in the border areas of the north coastal Andhra and the city police were also on alert expecting the cadre to take shelter here.
In Srikakulam district, the police in joint operation with Orissa counterparts intensified combing in the border villages expecting the Maoists to take shelter here following the encounter in Nallamala. The Dandakaranya forest bordering Orissa and Andhra Pradesh has always been considered by the extremists as a safe zone.
Sources said the SPs of Srikakulam and Gajapathi held a meeting on Sunday and requisitioned additional Greyhound forces. This, however, is a having serious affect on the panchayat elections slated for August 2. In Vizianagaram district, a red alert has been sounded under all the police stations following the encounter.
The police particularly in Agency areas were put on high alert and vehicle searches were intensified on all important routes. Area Domination teams were shifted to Agency areas despite deployment of special patrolling parties, the sources said. District SP Vikram Singh Mann was monitoring the situation personally from time to time.
The police has sealed the entry points of the city and armed police were put on high alert, said commissioner of police V.S.K. Kaumudi.Talking to this correspondent here on Monday, Mr Kaumudi said the vehicles were being searched and the police were asked keep an eye on the lodges, railway station and RTC Complex for suspicious elements.
Though the city is known for having a large number of Maoist sympathisers, no arrests have been made so far. “We are keeping a watch to prevent any untoward incidents in the city,” the commissioner said.
High alert was sounded in the rural areas and Agency in the border villages. Superintendent of police J.G. Muarli is in constant touch with the police officers. Security has been increased for all the Agency police stations.
AU starts new MTech course
Visakhapatnam, July 24: The Andhra University has introduced a new two-year MTech course in construction technology and project management. The classes for the course will be held in the evening during the week days.
Disclosing this at a press conference, here on Monday, the head of the department of civil engineering, Prof. P.S.N. Raju said that the course was very unique and was offered only at IIT Madras and NICMAR in Hyderabad. Stating that around Rs 1,000 crore worth construction activity was going on in and around the city, he said the course was introduced in view of the growing demand for the construction technology.
The classes would be conducted in the evenings during the weekdays and in the morning session on Sundays, which will be convenient for the working engineers, he added. The course fee would be Rs 85,000 per annum. Classes will start from August 1 and the total seats are 10.
Kurnool, July 24: Hundreds of farmers led by former Nandikotkur MLA Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy laid siege to the district collectorate on Monday in protest against the closure of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme sluices.
Mr Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy took up one-day hu-nger strike demanding that the government open the RDS sluices and protect the farmers of Kurnool and Kadapa districts. Hundreds of farmers from Kurnool, Adoni, Yemmiganur, Kod-umuru, Nandikotkur, Atma-kur Assembly constituencies gathered here in the morning and laid siege to the collectorate.
The protest continued till evening. The farmers took an oath that they would continue their agitation till the government opened the RDS sluices. The farmers criticised the State government for turning a blind eye to the increase in non-ayacut area in Karnataka and picturing the farmers of Kurnool-Cuddapah canal as robbers.
If the government is committed to the welfare of farmers, it should immediately curb increase in non ayacut area in Karnataka State by opening the sluices, they said. Farmers fear that the entire K-C canal would become useless with the closure of sluices and the farming community would suffer huge losses and demanded that the government open sluices.
Addressing the protesters, formers MLA from Nandikotkur Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy called upon the farmers to prepare themselves for a massive agitation for the opening of RDS sluices. He cited the blackmail tactics of the Telangana leaders as the reason for the closure of RDS sluices. The problem has cropped up due to lack of proper knowledge on RDS issue, he said.
Mr Byreddy said that the closure of sluices would only benefit Karnataka and not Telangana region. Far-mers raised slogans deman-ding the opening of sluices and ensure sufficient water to ayacut areas in Kurnool and Kadapa districts. Former mayor Bangi Ananthaiah, TD corporator Thota Venkat Krishna Reddy and others participated.
Farmers lay siege to collectorate
Kurnool, July 24: Hundreds of farmers led by former legislator from Nandikotkur Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy laid siege to the district collectorate on Monday in protest against the closure of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme sluices.
Mr Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy took up one-day hunger strike demanding that the government open the RDS sluices and protect farmers of Kurnool and Kadapa districts. Hundreds of farmers from Kurnool, Adoni, Yemmiganur, Kodumuru, Nandikotkur, Atmakur Assembly constituencies gathered here in the morning and laid siege to the collectorate. The protest continued till evening.
The farmers took an oath that they would continue their agitation till the government opened the RDS sluices. The farmers criticised the State government for turning a blind eye to the increase in non-ayacut area in Karnataka State and picturing the farmers of Kurnool-Cuddapah canal as robbers.
If the government is committed to the welfare of farmers, it should immediately curb increase in non-ayacut area in Karnataka by opening the sluices, they said. Farmers fear that the entire K-C canal would become useless with the closure of sluices and the farming community would suffer huge losses and demanded that the government open sluices.
Addressing the protesters, former MLA from Nandikotkur Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy called upon the farmers to prepare themselves for a massive agitation for the opening of RDS sluices.
He cited the blackmail tactics of the Telangana leaders as the reason for the closure of RDS sluices. The problem has cropped up due to lack of proper knowledge on RDS issue, he said. Mr Byreddy said that the closure of sluices would only benefit Karnataka and not Telangana region.
Farmers raised slogans demanding the opening of sluices and ensure sufficient water to ayacut areas in Kurnool and Kadapa districts. Former mayor Bangi Ananthaiah, TD corporator Thota Venkat Krishna Reddy and others participated.
1,949 in fray for sarpanch elections
Kurnool, July 24: After the withdrawal of nominations on Sunday, candidates left in the fray for panchayat sarpanch polls began their election campaign on Monday. It may be mentioned that polls for the election of panchayat sarpanches and ward members are slated for July 29, August 2, 3 and August 6.
Of the total 898 village panchayats in the districts, elections are being held for 879 as the tenure of their elected bodies will end by October this year. Polls are not being conducted for 19 panchayats whose tenure will not end this year. Among the 879 panchayats, 183 have elected their sarpanches unanimously obviating the need for conducting polls. In the remaining 696 panchayats, 1,949 candidates are in the fray for panchayat posts.
For the 9,150 wards in these villages, 3,107 elected their representatives without contest. A total of 13,255 persons are vying for the remaining 6,026 wards. Though elections are supposedly non-partisan, almost all the candidates are portraying themselves as candidate of one party or another during their campaign.
Activists and leaders of major political parties are busy garnering support to their sarpanch and ward member candidates. A notable aspect of the campaign is that rather than presenting themselves in a positive way, many contestants are bent on getting their rival disqualified thro-ugh submitting evidence to election authorities on the alleged violations of their rivals.
This negative phenomenon in the campaign is vitiating the atmosphere in the villages where the situation is already tense due to the recent ZPTC and MPTC polls.
Dams receive huge inflows
Kurnool, July 24: Heavy inflows of floodwaters into Tungabhadra and Srisailam dams brought much needed relief to the farmers in Rayaseema region. Farming activity has come to standstill in the region due to lack of rains.
The water level is gradually increasing in Srisailam and Tungabhadra reservoirs following heavy rains in the catchment areas in Karnataka. Water level at Tungabhadra dam has increased sharply in the last one week.
Inflows into Srisailam reservoir has also increased. On Monday evening, the water level at Tungabhadra dam reached 1629.873 feet against the maximum level of 1,633 ft while the storage capacity stood at 92.678 tmc feet against the total capacity of 111 tmc ft. The dam is receiving 44,000 cusecs of floodwaters while 6,581 cusecs of water is being released into various canals.
If the present inflows of floodwaters continue for another two days, the entire gates would be lifted and water would be released downstream, Tungabhadra dam officials said. Similarly, the Srisailam reservoir saw heavy inflows of floodwaters. The reservoir is receiving 1.3 lakh cusecs of water while 64,840 cusecs is being released downstream through hydel power production.
Officials said that 6,570 cusecs of water is being released through the Pothireddypadu head regulator. Meanwhile, officials sounded flood alert in Tungabhadra river catchment areas as there are chances of lifting gates of Tungabhadra dam in the next two days. Officials asked people to move to safer places.
Polls set excise coffers ringing
Nellore, July 24: It is a known fact that cash and liquor play a major role in deciding the fate of contesting candidates, whether it is the general elections, local body elections or panchayat elections. The liquor sales registers of the district provide enough proof for the role of liquor during elections. The recent elections to local bodies and panchayats has come as a shot in the arm for the excise department which exceeded its targets.
The department made Rs 12 crore over its normal sales during the just concluded local body elections, and it has already made Rs 16.50 crore till Sunday and is anticipating to make another Rs 5 crore in the next 10 days by when the election process would come to an end.
Excise Superintendent of Nellore division Mr Narayana Reddy said that sale was up by 30 per cent over the corresponding period last year. Contrary to apprehensions over a possible drop in sales owing to increase in the upset price, the cash register is showing upward trends apparently because of elections.
The department registered a sale of Rs 49.76 crore for three months between April 2005 to June 2005 in the district and the sale increased to Rs 59.83 crore during the corresponding period this year.
A legislator of the district said that it had become a custom to provide liquor and non-vegetarian food to people following leaders during electioneering unlike never before. He said that contestants had been spending anywhere between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh even for the elections of sarpanch of minor panchayats.
“This way we have got to be ready with Rs 3 to Rs 5 crore if we have to contest in the next general elections,” the MLA said, referring to a number of villages falling under each Assembly segment. He said that he had spent Rs 40 lakh to win the election last time. “This amount is peanuts if I decide to be in the fray once again,” he quipped.
Media persons stranded in forest
Markapuram, July 24: Scribes, photographers and videographers working for both the print and electronic media stranded in the thick Nallamala forests in Yerragondapalem mandal of Prakasam district on Monday night when they went to cover the encounter incident in which eight Maoists including Maoist committee State secretary Madhav were killed.
The difficult journey on the truck passes through thick forests covered by bushes, trees and boulders in Yerragondapalem Mandal. The encounter site is located between Palutla and Nekkanti Chenchugudem villages.
Over 20 reporters and photographers left Markapuram town at 9 am on Monday and reached Palutla village around 4 p.m. Later, they began a journey to the site on foot in the area covered by hills, trees and huge boulders.
They reportedly reached the site after sunset and are likely to return Markapuram in the early hours of Tuesday or in the afternoon. Greyhound forces also accompanied the scribes. The bodies of the slain Maoists are likely be brought to Markapuram in the same vehicle in which the scribes will return to the town.
Reporters and photographers from Markapuram, Ongole and Vijayawada went to cover the event. As the encounter site is located in very thick deep forests, police also remained helpless.The one chartered chopper could airlift a limited number of officials and photographers in the morning.
Unfortunately, they could not communicate to their colleagues, police and family members over mobile phones due to lack of a communication system in the forests.
Improved intelligence helped us, says SP
Ongole, July 24: The powerful information network that the police developed in the Nallamala forest areas during the past few months was the secret behind Sunday’s successful encounter in which they killed eight Maoists including State committee secretary Madhav on Sunday.
Prakasam district SP Balasubramanyam said on Monday that the information system, planning and successful operation by special party forces were the reasons behind the success encounter.
Mr Balasubramanyam said that the police had received specific and authentic information on the meeting of Maoists on Sunday. Markapuram officer on special duty Ranganath gave accurate directions to execute the operation, the SP said.
The SP denied reports that Greyhounds were shifted by helicopter to the spot for the encounter. He said that these could not carry 20 to 25 men for each sortie; it was impossible to mobilise parties with helicopters. Police were taking help from surrendered Maoists and informers to get information on the movements of Maoists, he said.
Tight security for local polls
Kakinada, July 24: The district police administration is taking all precautions for the smooth conduct of panchayat polls in East Godavari district, said SP B. Srinivasulu on Monday.
He revealed that the department was making all arrangements for the polls to be conducted in three phases in the district on July 29, August 2 and August 6. In the first phase, elections are to be conducted in Peddapuram and Rampachodavaram divisions, in the second phase in Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Ramach-andrapuram area, and in the final phase, the polls are to be held in Amalapuram area.
In the first phase of elections in the Rampachodavaram, special precautions are being taken in view of the Naxalite threat, the SP added. For the conduct of the first phase of elections, 2,055 police personal are being deployed in addition to the 685 from Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
The police department has recognised 79 Naxalite-affected areas, 50 hypersensitive villages and 71 sensitive villages in the Agency region, the SP said. He added that in view of the Naxal threat, 19 special striking forces and 19 additional striking forces would be put into use. In the second phase of elections for Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Ramachandrapuram, 113 hypersensitive villages. 112 sensitive villages and two Naxal-affected villages have been marked.
For these areas, 23 special striking forces and 23 striking forces would be utilised in addition to the force from the district and other districts of Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. In the final phase of election for Amalapuram division, special security arrangements are being made in the 91 hypersensitive villages and 92 sensitive villages.
Special striking forces numbering 32 are being deployed in addition to the regular force. The SP disclosed that 1,493 bind-over cases were booked on trouble-makers for peaceful conduct of the polls. Out of them, 424 are rowdy-sheeters and the remaining 1,069 are those who created trouble during the previous elections.
6 cops served charge memos
Eluru, July 24: West Godavari district superintendent of police M. Jaganmohan Reddy served charge memos to a circle inspector, two sub-inspectors and three constables for dereliction of duty on Monday.
Bhimadole circle inspector M.J.V. Bhaskara Rao, Dendulur SI B. Shyam Sundar, Dwarakatirumala SI K.T.T.V. Ramana Rao, Dw-arakatirumala in-charge he-ad constable N. Rambabu and constables D.V.R. Murthy and K. Muttaiah were served charge memos.
The SP made surprise visits to Bhimadole and Dwa-rakatirumala mandals on Sunday night and found the sale of liquor beyond the permitted time limit. The SP raided several hotels located along the national highway falling under Dendulur police station limits and seized liquor stocks.
The owners of the hotels, A. Venkateswara Rao, Ch. Ramesh and M. Adinarayana were arrested. Later, the SP inspected Dwarakatirumala police station and checked the night beat records upto 3 am. He found anomalies in the mai-ntenance of records and warned of stern action aga-inst those responsible if they failed to mend their ways.
Unanimity is name of the game
Nizamabad/ Warangal/ Adilabad, July 24: The incentives announced by the State government that Rs 5 lakh would be granted to ea-ch gram panchayat that ele-cts its body unanimously evoked good response in Nizamabad, Warangal and Adilabad districts.A total of 93 gram panchayats elected their bodies unanimously in Nizamabad district.
The district panchayat office has decided to conduct elections to 681 gram panchayats in Nizamabad, Bodhan and Kamareddy revenue sub-divisions in three phases. Of them, 41 gram panchayats in Nizamabad division, 22 in Bodhan division and 30 in Kamareddy division elected their bodies including sarpanches and ward members unanimously after the withdrawal of nominations on Sunday. Elections to the remaining 568 gram panchayats will be held as per schedule.
Responding to a query, so-urces said that they were yet to receive a specific GO fr-om State government regar-ding incentives for unanim-ously elected panchayats.In Warangal district too, a total of 106 villages have witnessed unanimous election for sarpanch posts.
The district authorities will now conduct elections in only 864 gram panchayats and a total of 2,678 candidates are in fray. The Warangal revenue division accounted for the election of 20 sarpanches unanimously, followed by 19 in Jangaon, 16 in Mahbubabad and 14 in Narsampet division.
Similarly, 1,688 ward members were also got unanimously elected in the district, while the elections for a total of 8,161 wards will be held in three phases.
Elections will be held on July 29 in gram panchayats under the Mulug division. Elections will be held on August 2 in the second phase in Mahbubabad and Narsampet divisions and on August 6 in Warangal and Jangaon division in the third phase.
Collector K. Damayanti and district panchayat officer Kondal Rao stated that elaborate arrangements were made for the free and fair elections in the district.
While in Adilabad district, as many as 62 gram panchayats out of 864 have elected their sarpanches and ward members unanimously in the gram panchayat election in the district.
District panchayat officer Adellu told this correspondent on Monday that 70 gram panchayats have selected their sarpanches and ward members unanimously, according to information received so far from the revenue divisional officers. He said that rewards would be awarded to such gram panchayats as the concerned minister announced recently.
Cops plan to exploit sentiments of tribals
Warangal, July 24: Trying to exploit the sentiments of tribal people that were hurt after the Erraboru massacre in Chattisgarh, the district police launched a publicity war against Maoists. The police has erected a peace memorial at Kakatiya University cross roads here in memory of the Erraboru victims.
Besides erecting the peace memorial, which will permanently remind the tribals of the massacre carried against them, the police have also taken up publicity shows to create awareness among tribals.
The message (read brainwash) that they want to convey to the tribals is that though they were giving shelter and offering food to the Naxalites they continued to kill the tribals.
Pasting the posters depicting the Erraboru massacre was also one among the strategies. Distributing pamphlets on the massacre and performing skits on the incident were also planned by the police.
Alert sounded at police stations
Nizamabad, July 24: Superintendent of Police Mahesh Chandra Laddha alerted DSPs, circle inspectors and sub-inspectors of 44 police stations in the district, following the encoun-ter in which eight Maoists were killed in Prakasam district on Sunday.
Director general of police Swarnjit Sen issued instructions to the Nizamabad SP to alert all police stations, in view of the major encoun-ter that occur-red in Prakasam district. He warned that Maoists might attack police stations.
The deputy inspector general of police and the SP along wi-th the officer on special du-ty and additional SP should hold an emergency meeting in the district headquarters to issue instructions to all the police stations.
Responding to the DGP’s instructions, Mr Laddha asked all the DSPs working in Nizamabad, Bodhan, Armoor and Kamareddy to alert police stations under their jurisdiction. No police personnel from constable to sub-inspector should go alone outside, because the Maoists may take revenge. Policemen should not spend time either at hotels or other areas like bus stops and public places, alone.
Instructions were also given to police personnel to utilise the services of surrendered militants in the respective police stations to easily identify Maoist-related persons. The sub-inspector should also maintain contacts with these ex-militants to obtain information regarding the movement of Maoists every hour. These instructions were particularly important for police stations under Kamareddy police sub-divisional area.
Two end lives due to HIV stigma
Karimnagar, July 24: A 75-year-old man committed suicide along with his granddaughter unable to bear the death of his daughter due to AIDS at Pogakupalli village in Timmapur mandal of this district on Sunday midnight. The girl too contracted HIV virus and her health condition was worsening.
According to sources, a 35-year-old HIV patient died at her father’s residence at Pogakulapalli on Sunday midnight. Perturbed over the death of his daughter and deteriorating health of his seven-year-old granddaughter, the old man reportedly administered poison to the girl and consumed the same late in the night.
Sources in the village said they died within few hours. The incident came to light on Monday morning when the milkman opened the entrance door of the house and found the bodies of the three in the front room.
The police have registered a case and are investigating. The woman married to a man of Chigurumamidi village about eight years ago, reportedly acquired the killer infection from him and subsequently passed it on to her daughter during the birth, sources said. Two years after marriage the man deserted her. The woman moved to her father’s house along with her daughter unable to face isolation from her in-laws.
Battle lines drawn for local polls
Vijayawada, July 24: The contesting candidates in the panchayat elections have intensified their campaign as the deadline is fast approaching. The election for over 281 panchayats under Nuzvid revenue division would be held on July 29 followed by in 238 panchayats of Vijayawada division on August 2 in the second phase.
The third and final phase of elections would be held for 445 panchayats under Gudivada and Machilipatnam divisions on August 6. With only five days left for the voters to decide the fate of the candidates, those in the race have intensified their campaign.
As the number of voters and the area to be covered by each candidate is limited, they are holding door-to-door campaign even in the night. The election being a local issue, it is prestigious for the candidates as they would remain with the people for the next five years, be it a victory or defeat.
The use of money, liquor and small gifts are the vote-catching devices that are being highly circulated in the villages. According to sources, the candidates are paying Rs 100 for each vote, besides a liquor bottle to the male voter and some kitchen utensils for a female voter.
The Nuzvid revenue division has four Assembly segments, Nuzvid, Tiruvur, Gannavaram and Vuyyur, besides two mandals from the neighbouring Mylavaram segment. However, the legislators, who have tasted unexpected victories and defeats in the just concluded zilla parishad and mandal parishad elections are silent in this round of elections leaving the battle to the local leaders.
Though the inactive role being played by the legislators hurt the local leaders, the candidates appear to be undeterred as the voters are familiar to them.
Hoax call holds up work at court
Khammam, July 24: A hoax call from an anonymous person stalled the work in the district court on Monday. Police personnel led by divisional superintendent of police R.D.S. Bhandari made a frantic search for three hours, but they did not find any explosives on the premises of the court.
The anonymous caller who rang up to an employee of the court at 10.30 am informed that a bomb which was planted in the court would explode at 1.30 pm. The caller did not give any other details and held up. The information was passed on to the police. The police requested the court officials to vacate the premises and swung into action. But, they had not find any bomb in the court.
ZP chief assures to help farmers
Machilipatnam, July 24: Zilla Parishad chairman Kukkala Nageswara Rao said on Monday that he has taken up the post of ZP chairman with an objective of developing the district. Speaking to mediapersons, he said he would give top priority for the development of education. He also said that he would strive to reach the farmers and farm labourers with the various schemes being implemented by the government.
He said he would take special care for the development of the agriculture sector as the district is dependent mainly on it. Re-garding Machilipatnam po-rt, Mr Nageswara Rao expressed hope that it wou-ld be developed during the next five years.
He said that he would commence exports and imports as the head of the SK Shipping Company if minimum facilities are provided in the port. Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad was also present.
Copying: Court acquits accused
Guntur, July 24: Court acquitted all the accused in the sensational case of malpractice in Eamcet, in which cellphone was used for copying. Guntur special mobile magistrate, G. Lakshmi Narasimha Reddy quashed the case since the prosecution failed to prove their charges.
According to the prosecution, G. Veerababu, the prime accused in the case, took Eamcet exam for medical stream on April 26, 2003. On a tip- off a police team arrested 10 persons on the charge of sending answers through a landline. However, the accused were acquitted for lack of proof.
Naxal caste war out in open, says Satyamoorthy
Vijayawada, July 24: The circumstances of the enco-unter death of Madhav, AP Maoists State committee secretary, on Sunday are surprising, observers said. Madhav’s predecessor, Akkiraju Haragopal alias Ramakrishna, was surrounded by the anti-Naxal Greyhounds twice in the past. He escaped once but the second time Maoist representatives prevailed upon the government to give him safe passage. This was not done for Madhav which is surprising, observers said.
The Maoist State committee secretary is surrounded by five layers of security, among them a suicide squad that is ready to kill and get killed to protect their leader. Such youth were found in dozens when Ramakrishna came overground to participate in talks with the government.
These securitymen appea-red to be mysteriously missing in Madhav’s case. Prakasam district superintendent of police Balasubrahmanyam told this correspondent that Madhav’s se-curity personnel could not retaliate as the Maoists we-re running short of gelatine sticks and other explosives.
Observers said that the SP’s opinion did not comp-letely explain why Madhav was so poorly protected. Co-founder of the naxal movement in the State K.G. Satyamoorthy told this correspondent that the absence of security for Madhav showed the increasing caste politics in the organisation.
Mr Satyamoorthyy found fault with Maoists spoke-spersons for failing to get to avert the encounter as they had done in the past to protect Ramakrishna. “It clearly shows that the party has caste politics playing a dominant role which also led to my exit. Some upper caste leaders in the organisation were unable to digest Madhav as State secretary,” he said. He said that the killing of the State secretary in an encounter showed that the “movement is on its death bed.”
North coast put on high alert
Visakhapatnam, July 24: The major encounter in Nallamala forests, which claimed the life of State secretary of the Maoists, triggered off high alert in the border areas of the north coastal Andhra and the city police were also on alert expecting the cadre to take shelter here.
In Srikakulam district, the police in joint operation with Orissa counterparts intensified combing in the border villages expecting the Maoists to take shelter here following the encounter in Nallamala. The Dandakaranya forest bordering Orissa and Andhra Pradesh has always been considered by the extremists as a safe zone.
Sources said the SPs of Srikakulam and Gajapathi held a meeting on Sunday and requisitioned additional Greyhound forces. This, however, is a having serious affect on the panchayat elections slated for August 2. In Vizianagaram district, a red alert has been sounded under all the police stations following the encounter.
The police particularly in Agency areas were put on high alert and vehicle searches were intensified on all important routes. Area Domination teams were shifted to Agency areas despite deployment of special patrolling parties, the sources said. District SP Vikram Singh Mann was monitoring the situation personally from time to time.
The police has sealed the entry points of the city and armed police were put on high alert, said commissioner of police V.S.K. Kaumudi.Talking to this correspondent here on Monday, Mr Kaumudi said the vehicles were being searched and the police were asked keep an eye on the lodges, railway station and RTC Complex for suspicious elements.
Though the city is known for having a large number of Maoist sympathisers, no arrests have been made so far. “We are keeping a watch to prevent any untoward incidents in the city,” the commissioner said.
High alert was sounded in the rural areas and Agency in the border villages. Superintendent of police J.G. Muarli is in constant touch with the police officers. Security has been increased for all the Agency police stations.
AU starts new MTech course
Visakhapatnam, July 24: The Andhra University has introduced a new two-year MTech course in construction technology and project management. The classes for the course will be held in the evening during the week days.
Disclosing this at a press conference, here on Monday, the head of the department of civil engineering, Prof. P.S.N. Raju said that the course was very unique and was offered only at IIT Madras and NICMAR in Hyderabad. Stating that around Rs 1,000 crore worth construction activity was going on in and around the city, he said the course was introduced in view of the growing demand for the construction technology.
The classes would be conducted in the evenings during the weekdays and in the morning session on Sundays, which will be convenient for the working engineers, he added. The course fee would be Rs 85,000 per annum. Classes will start from August 1 and the total seats are 10.
