HYDERABAD: Notwithstanding the attack on unarmed personnel at Atmakur (M) police station in Nalgonda district by Maoists, killing three policemen, the Director General of Police, Swaranjit Sen, has ruled out the withdrawal of police stations in the State without weapons.

He also told a news conference here on Saturday that there was neither a scheme to arm men at such stations nor increase their strength.

He said a third of the 1500 police stations in the State did not have weapons.

Mr. Sen insisted that none of the existing police stations in the State could be wound up on account of vulnerability to extremist attacks. "We have to be present in the service of people. We cannot run away owing to such incidents," he remarked.

The DGP said it was unfortunate that the Maoists targeted police stations which were involved in peaceful and basic policing. They were not engaged in fighting the extremists.

He also said there were no weapons at Atmakur (M) police station because the area was considered peaceful and there were no social problems.

The staff were liked by the local population. The Sub-Inspector and the Assistant Sub-Inspector, who died, were popular with the locals. So, the attack was totally unexpected, he said.

"It was madness. We can understand if there was any reason to do so. But, in this case there was none," he added.

Mr. Sen described the incident as a desperate attempt by Maoists to save their faces in the wake of too many reversals suffered in the recent past.

They were trying to provoke the police but the latter will not get into their trap.

Meanwhile, the AP Police Officers Association has given call for a weeklong mourning at all police stations and battalions of AP Special Police from Saturday. It also called for condolence meetings and processions by policemen in district headquarter towns.

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