Cops keeping tab on Maoist sympathisers: SP Dutt

Kothagudem : As Maoists have influence in tribal dominated Kothagudem district, the police have extra responsible of ensuring security not only of general public but also of candidates and leaders on campaign trail to seek vote from people in Naxalites-hit villages. 

“All the contesting candidates and political leaders have been asked to inform the police before they venture into troubled areas for campaign so that a police party is sent ahead of them to such areas to ensure their security, said SP Sunil Dutt on Monday. 

In an interview with the Hans India, he spoke extensively about the security measures are being taken in view of ensuing Assembly elections. He also talked about the precautions being taken for the candidates as the tribal areas are infested with Maoists.     

Apart from regular combing operations, cordon and search operations are regularly conducted and concerned Station House Officer (SHOs) and police teams are visiting Guttikoya hamlets frequently, he informed.

They are interacting with Maoist sympathisers, former militants to ensure that they will not fall back into extremists' influence, the SP said. He said the border areas in Kothagudem district are fully secured. Besides regular checkups by special teams, 15 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) and 15 Flying Squads have been formed to carry out inspections on borders and other parts of the district.

He said clearly one Random Vehicle Checking Team has been formed to conduct inspections across the district at places specified randomly in a day to monitor movements of Maoists and suspicious persons.

Recently battalion of Indo Tibetan Border Police force (ITBP 32bn)  arrived here. Flag marches are being conducted at vulnerable places and other parts of police sub-divisions in the district. Flag marches have been conducted at Kothaghgudem, Yellandu and Manguru so far, the SP said.

Similarly, over 2,000 persons with rowdy sheets, Maoist sympathizers and those running belt shops have been bounded -over. There are 46 licensed weapons in the district out of them 26 are related to bank security and the others have been surrendered.

The SP Sunil said, the police have also been making efforts to encourage public, especially youth to use of cVIGIL App to report poll code violations.