HYDERABAD, DECEMBER 16: With the killing of Madhya Pradesh Transport Minister Likhiram Kawre on Thursday, the outlawed People's War Group (PWG) proved that it has indeed spread its tentacles far and wide.This is the first time in the two-decade long history of the PWG that the Naxalites assassinated a minister though there have been many instances in the past of extremists killing elected representatives.The killing of the minister, though of a different state, is being viewed with much concern by the AP police as it gives a new dimension to the Naxalite movement particularly in the wake of People's War Group joining hands with Marxist-Leninist (ML) groups in other states including the People's Unity of Bihar.The Balaghat district bordering Maharashtra, where the incident took place this morning, was Naxal affected and a couple of armed squads are active in the area, according to sources here. In fact, this area is part of the Dandakaranya, declared as a guerrilla zone by the PWG.According to the anti-Naxalite wing of the Andhra Pradesh police, there were even a few incidents of Naxal violence in the district in the past. A couple of months ago, extremists fired at a police post, which was repulsed by a three-member police party. Two Naxalites were killed in the exchange of fire.The police top brass here admitted that the incident reflected the strength of the Naxalite group. "When they could kill a minister in a state where the extremist movement is yet to take deep roots, it would not be difficult to assess what they would do here in retaliation to the Karimnagar encounter," a senior IPS officer told ENS on condition of anonymity.As far as Andhra Pradesh was concerned, the PW group began targeting elected representatives by killing Tadicherla mandal president Malhar Rao way back in 1988. The next year, another mandal president Shankaraiah was killed by extremists. Subsequently, several elected representatives fell to the bullets of the extremists.However, with the killings of former Assembly Speaker D Sripada Rao a few months ago and TDP MLA P Purushotham Rao on the eve of the Assembly elections in Adilabad districts, the PW Naxalites successfully sent across the message that they mean business.Thursday's Madhya Pradesh incident might force the AP Government to review the security provided to its ministers. Sources said that they would be asked to restrict their movements in districts.Police officials here feel that the incident is likely to bring a change in the attitude of the Madhya Pradesh government towards Naxalites. The AP police openly expressed their unhappiness in the past over the "non-cooperation" from their counterparts in both Madhya Pradesh and Orissa in containing movement of the extremists."Whenever we stepped up vigil on the movement of Naxalites here, they crossed the borders and entered either of the two states," an official said.In fact, a months ago Chief Ministers of Naxal affected states met in Delhi to launch a coordinated fight against the Naxalites. This was followed by a meeting of top police officers of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra where they agreed to share information and conduct joint operations in border districts but nothing much happened thereafter.
