For the first time, a group of police personnel visited the Maoist-dominated Amadalapadu hamlet, 5 km from the Chattisgarh border, and enjoyed ‘ Kartika Vana Bhojanalu’ with Gottikoya tribal families.
As part of community policing, police arranged ‘Atmeeya Sammelanam’ for tribal people in Chinturu police sub-division, on the borders of Sukuma district, on Thursday and enquired about their welfare. The tribal people requested a borewell in the tiny hamlet, said Yetapaka Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Amit Bardar, who interacted with the families.
About 110 Gottikoya tribal families migrated from Sukma district of Chattisgarh to Andhra Pradesh and settled at Amadalapadu, Vangalagudem, Venkatapuram hamlets. They eke out their livelihood on ‘podu agriculture’, said Chinturu Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Khadar Basha.
“Atmeeya Sammelanam and Vana Bhojanalu have been arranged as per the directions of East Godavari Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi. As viral fevers were rampant in the Agency area, police created awareness among the tribal people on hygiene to prevent the outbreak of fevers,” said Mr. Bardar.
More than 100 tribal families attended the Vana Bojanalu and the Atmeeya Sammelanam and explained about their livelihood and problems.
A medical camp has been arranged and police in plainclothes distributed medicines, blankets, clothes, sports kits and books for children. Mr. Asmi directed the OSD and the DSP to take measures to provide drinking water facility in Amadalapadu and the surrounding hamlets.
Circle Inspector Yuva Kumar and SI Suresh Babu said that Gottikoya tribals depended on rain-fed crops in forest areas and they were fond of chillies. “Police are taking care of the migrant tribal people from Chattisgarh to wean them away from Naxalite activities”, Mr. Yuva Kumar said.
Mr. Bardar and Khadar Basha went round the village, entered into the huts and interacted with the women and children and enquired about their health and education. They organised games and sports for children and distributed prizes.
“This is the first time I visited Amadalapadu village. Gottikoya tribaal people are cultivating jowar and chillies crops in forests and market their produce in the nearby villages. It was a good experience,” said the DSP.
