Last Wednesday’s heinous attempt on the life of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, by the outlawed People’s War Group (PWG), is doubtless condemned by every peace-loving citizen. The incident testifies to the rank failure yet again of the state police and intelligence personnel in discharging their normal function of protecting public figures. Naidu’s scheduled visit to the Tirupathi temple to participate in the Brahmotsavam was very much in news for the last two months. In fact, it is an age old practice that the political head of the state takes part in this 10-day annual religious festival to offer clothes to the Lord of the Seven Hills. The ultras, therefore, had enough time to organise their attack meticulously. What was disturbing is that the police could not detect such a well laid out trap, which would have involved digging and filling of trenches near the road. This was possibly done under the cover of darkness or through sympathetic gangs of road construction workers. The police may, and have, dismissed the killing of small-time ruling party leaders, or an occasional police officer as routine. But when a Z-plus category VIP is targeted, it shows incompetence of a very high order indeed. It means that the security personnel are incapable of even conceiving of such attacks and responding to them, at least in terms of basic preparations. It is not the first time that political leaders have been targeted by the PWG. The lynching of panchayat raj minister, Madhav Reddy, three and half years ago, still has the power to horrify. Interestingly, the PWG has been lying low following a series of encounter killings of their senior members, even as several of their middle level cadres have surrendered. This has presumably led to the mistaken notion in police ranks that the underground movement has become weak and they could take it easy. In reality, the PWG has been quietly regrouping in every sense of the term: in building up fire power, training cadres in modern methods of warfare and forming a People’s Guerilla Army, as also strengthening bases in neighbouring states like Orissa. The incident demonstrates the need to initiate collective action to fight extremism. Some time ago, the Centre had attempted to initiate inter-state cooperation for this purpose. After high-level meetings at Hyderabad and Delhi, a Joint Coordination Command was formed with the top brass of the police of seven states, for intelligence-sharing, procuring the latest equipment and carrying out joint combing operations. That the political leadership and the police lack commitment to fight the extremists was also evident in the indifference shown to the implementation of a relief and rehabilitation package announced by Chandrababu Naidu for surrendered naxalites. Many of them, frustrated by the lack of support, have reportedly gone back into the underground movement. An apt comment indeed on the will of the system to fight this pernicious extremism.
