The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Chief Minister visits Bhainsa

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Friday, Oct 17, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Chief Minister visits Bhainsa

Staff Reporter

Moots new police sub-division in Adilabad district for strengthening policing

— Photo: G. SANJEEV REDDY

First-hand assessment: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, accompanied by Congress leaders, walking through the main bazar in Bhainsa town on Thursday.

BHAINSA (ADILABAD DT.): Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Thursday said the government would work out establishment of a new police sub-division in Adilabad district with Bhainsa town as headquarters as part of the long-term strategy to maintain peace. He said a police officer of the rank of DSP will be posted here once the sub-division gets instituted, thereby strengthening policing in the area.

Dr. Reddy was addressing elders and leaders of different communities and political parties at the R&B guest house at Bhainsa as part of his visit to this town and nearby Vatoli village where communal disturbances had occurred last weekend.

The Chief Minister said the government’s top priority now lay in bringing peace to the area. A thorough inquiry to identify the guilty in the Bhainsa and Vatoli incidents is underway, he added.

Dr. Reddy laid emphasis on providing succour to the victims of violence at Bhainsa with the rider that investigations should establish the innocence of the persons concerned. The persons who suffered losses due to their involvement in the disturbances will not get any compensation from the government, he pointed out.

The Chief Minister spoke at length about the Constitutional rights of minorities and appealed to the people of Bhainsa to cooperate with the investigations into the Vatoli incident and communal disturbances of Bhainsa without fear of being exposed.

Dr. Reddy had earlier visited the houses in Vatoli where the six ill-fated members of a family were burnt alive. He handed over six cheques worth Rs. 5 lakh each as ex gratia to the kin of the deceased. He visited a place of worship and walked through the main bazar in Bhainsa town to get acquainted with the kind of loss of property that had occurred. APCC president D. Srinivas also accompanied him, among others.

Security ring

Tight security ring was thrown in and around Bhainsa town and nearby Vatoli village in view of the visit of the Chief Minister.

Unlike the usual practice, even VIPs were not allowed near the helipad to receive the VVIP and they had to wait patiently in a queue to welcome him.

Flow of traffic on either side of Bhainsa town was closed for the duration of the visit of Dr. Reddy.

Despite passes to move about under curfew conditions being restricted to only to a few elders and press persons, security persons kept checking them at every picket.

Curfew will continue on Friday and its lifting may come only on Saturday or Sunday depending upon the improvement in the situation.

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