In the name of the state

Sir, - The analysis on the Mehendikheda incident by Rammanohar Reddy (Magazine section, May 27): As a resident here and having worked in this area for a number of years, I was troubled by the events and the action taken to solve the issues. At the political level there has been no attempt at dialogue with the various groups. On the other hand, the local leaders and others have been pressing for state action in the name of naxalism.

Members of van samitis, were used as a ``police-labour force'' for executing task force operations.A group of residents from Dewas visited two of the affected villages on April 14 - Katukiya and Potla. Bona Bai's house in Katukiya was destroyed. Utensils, implements, grain and dal were stolen by members of the task force.

The experience of the other residents was no different. Things had been stolen; signs of vengeance were apparent. All this was done in an official operation.

One villager recalled what a task force member had said: ``Who will you complain to now? We are the police.'' In the same village there were houses of some `van samiti' members which had not been touched - one set of people were played against another under the garb of `van samitis'.

Arvind Sardana,

Dewas

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