The Andhra Pradesh Police have often been praised for their strategic approach in tackling left wing extremism in different parts of the State — so much so that other States were asked to emulate initiatives such as the constitution of a Special Intelligence Branch, a secret wing monitoring Maoist movement and tipping field level officers, and the Grey Hounds, the elite commando force to fight Naxalites.
However, no police officer today is willing to venture if the same level of cooperation among different wings of the police across the bifurcated states of Telangana and successor Andhra Pradesh will continue.
Though once seriously affected by Naxalites, Telangana is today almost free of their influence. Two of its districts, Warangal and Khammam, are still vulnerable as they share borders with Chhattisgarh, which is now the epicentre of the Maoist movement.
The successor A.P. State is likely to face more challenges from Maoists as four of its districts —Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari — have a long border with Maoist-affected parts of neighbouring Odisha. “Surely this is going to be tough task for both the States though we don’t acknowledge it publicly for strategic reasons,” admitted a senior police officer requesting anonymity.
Sharing of intelligence inputs, coordination, concerted efforts to check Maoist movement along borders of the two States is the only solution, he surmises. Law and order maintenance in Telangana — especially in communally sensitive Old City of Hyderabad which is going to be joint capital for both States for 10 years — is also going to be affected as forces are being divided.
Recent communal clashes in Rajendranagar abutting the Old City, resulting in the death of three persons in police firing, has already sent alarm bells ringing. Police top brass admitted that an inadequate force — most of the contingents were deployed for elections and an IPL cricket match — failed to quell the clashes immediately.
Telangana will require the help of successor A.P. in security arrangements during Ganesh Puja and Ramzan festivals, celebrated on gigantic scale in the joint capital.
Interestingly, with just a day left for Telangana State to begin its administration, confusion pervades the ranks of the police department on distribution of forces. “When I return home every evening from office, my family asks which State I am going to work but I don’t have a clear answer,” says a senior IPS officer of the State cadre hailing from north India.
