Naxalite attack -- Warangal Collector discharged

Naxalite attack -- Warangal Collector discharged
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

WARANGAL, FEB 13: District Collector Adityanath Das, who was injured in an attack by People's War Naxalites near Eturunagaram in Warangal district yesterday evening, was discharged from a private hospital early today.

Das, who was initially admitted to MGM hospital, was later shifted to the Corporate Hospital.

Das's driver Sambaiah, who was also injured in the ambush, was operated upon in the hospital. ``His condition is stable,'' hospital sources told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, several organisations have strongly condemned the attempt on Das's life. Those criticising the attack include, Joint Action Committee of Teachers and Employees, district unit of Human Rights Forum and Andhra Pradesh State Typists and Stenographers' Association.

Meanwhile, police circles in the district were of the opinion that surveillance on Naxalite activists in Mulugu sub division was not upto the mark as the post of Mulugu deputy superintendent of police has been lying vacant for the past three months.

Mulugu DSP Rangareddy went on a long leave in November last and within 10 days, extremists gunned down Bhupalapally inspector of police Vivekananda Swamy.

Since then, the movements of PWG military platoon have been fairly evident in the area. Last week, the PWG kidnapped Congress MLA P. Veeraiah while he was on his way to Inchampally in the neighbouring Karimnagar.

Security arrangements for the Collector were also found to be wanting as policemen were not posted at strategic locations, sources said. Armed policemen were found at Chinnaboinapally and Tadwai only, leaving several other places uncovered.

With the post of DSP lying vacant, the officers down the ranks have slackened a bit, resulting in yesterday's incident, a section of police officers argued.