The Hindu : PW sets free two cops

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 23, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

PW sets free two cops

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR DEC. 22. Naxalites belonging to the People's War set free the two constables, whom they had abducted for over 50 hours, on Saturday night. The release was unconditional.

In keeping with its promise, the police department also set free six persons -- apart from the seven, including the sarpanch of Takkellapadu village, who were released on Friday - picked up on Thursday after the cops were abducted.

The naxalites released the constables of the Dachepalli police station, P. Venkateswarlu and R. Venkateswarlu, around 10.30 pm on Saturday near the road between Karempudi and Dachepalli, bringing down the curtains on the nerve-racking suspense that ensued their kidnap on Thursday evening. The two cops were brought blindfolded to the place from where they were asked to go. One naxalite accompanied the duo and removed the blindfolds and showed them the main road which was almost a furlong away. He told them that they would reach Karempudi if they took a right turn or could go to Dachepalli if they took the straight kutcha road.

The constables took the kutcha road and reached a school building at Pedakodamagundla around midnight on Saturday. They slept in one of the classrooms which was open for the night and got up around 5.45 am. They got into a jeep passing by the school and got down at Dachepalli police station and informed the senior district police officials about their safe return from the captivity of the naxalites.

The Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order), B.M.Ramalingeswara Rao, said at a crowded press conference here this noon that the department was happy over the safe return of the constables. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police of Guntur Range, Ray Vinayranjan, said: "Anything that ends in successful saving of lives is good.'' The DIG lauded the efforts of the sarpanch of Takkellapadu, Tamtam Srinivasa Babu, and his associates in getting the constables released. "We thank him for acting as our emissary,'' he said.

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