The third anniversary of the Balimela incident, in which 38 persons, including 32 Greyhound constables, were killed when the launch in which they were going in the reservoir was attacked by the Maoists, was observed on Wednesday.
Superintendent of Police G. Sreenivas, Assistant SP of Chintapalli Gopinath Jetti, Deputy SP Chandramohana Rao, Inspector of GK Veedhi K. Venkata Rao, officers and personnel of AP police and CRPF, local government officials like the Superintending Engineer, the Forest Range Officer, local sarpanch, MPTC, Chairman of the market yard, trade union leaders, motor vehicles unions, carpenters union, DWCRA groups, along with a large number of schoolchildren participated in a programme organised at the Sileru Police Station.
A two-minute silence was observed in respect of those who had lost their lives in the incident.
Rich tributes were paid to the victims and speakers wanted peace to prevail. Later the participants formed a human chain as a show of solidarity.
Police officers, including the Superintendent of Police, take part in a ‘sahapankti' lunch with the poor students of the local UCIM school.
At the Armed Reserve ground here, a condolence meeting was held to mourn the Balimela incident victims. OSD Kartikeya garlanded a photo of sub-inspector Sankara Rao, one of the victims and paid tributes to him and those killed in the incident.
The martyrs made the ultimate sacrifice and the police personnel must work towards fulfilling their goals, Mr. Kartikeya said.
The police department would extend all help to the families of police personnel who died in the incident, he assured. Circle Inspector (SB) K. Venkata Rao, Reserve Inspector Sitaram, Reserve police personnel participated.
In the District Police Office, Additional Superintendent of Police B. Sudarshana Rao and staff paid tributes to the Balimela incident victims.
