Unsung heroes 2014 english net edition

We Salute Our Police Martyrs

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Homage to thePatriotic Warriors

My Word

Pandarinath PrabhalaEditor

Purging of Naxalism:A Tale of Relentless Battle

Police sacrifices:Unhonoured

Need of nationalwill to fight against

terrorism

Koi Sikh Koi Jat Maratha..Koi Gurkha Koi Madrasi..Sarhad par Marne Wale...Har Veer Tha Bharat VasiSacrifice knows no region, religion. These immortal lines by Kavi Pradeep aptly describe the

derring-do, the valour and the spirit of sacrifice of the men in uniform. If the jawans of the armyprotect us from external threats, the police personnel strive every moment of their lives to ensureinternal security. They were never found wanting when the call for supreme sacrifice came.Constables and top cops alike, they were ever willing to risk their lives for our safety and security.It is sad that the people by and large tend to forget the police martyrs. It is heart-wrenching tosee their brave deeds become mere footnotes in the history of Independent India. Have you everseen any other government servant dying thunderstruck in the dead of the night? Only policemendie that way. It is only the policemen who get mowed down by an unruly vehicle while performingduties. A Naxal bullet, a deceitful landmine, a dacoit's machet, a robbers knife or a rash driver'ssudden swerve - can bring an end to a policeman's life.

But, what motivates the police personnel to plod on regardless? What makes them ever willingto risk their lives? Not pay packet, nor the perks, not even the ex-gratias. It is the deeply feltdesire to see a peaceful and safe India and to see its countless people live without fear.

Fairmedia, has always been moved by the unsung and unhonoured sacrifices of the men andwomen in Khaki. Every year, October 21 for us is an occasion to remember the martyred policemenwith pride and gratitude. Here's our humble offering to their hallowed memory. We hope thiseffort of ours will motivate the people to honour the sacrifices of our policemen and women.

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Heroes don’t live forEulogies!

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Page 13 Page 15

Close encounter withdeath!

A Hero in Life and death

Page 30 Page 32

Sacrifices dot the battleagainst Left Wing Terrorism

IPS MartyrsSupreme Sacrifice

Page 23 Page 25

Eswar: The Great Warrior

Police reforms:Now is the time Page 11

Page 10Editor

Pandarinath Prabhala

Associate EditorsVijay Nellutla

Silveri Srisailam

Advertising supportSri Charana Communications

Content CoordinationPalle Anjaneyulu

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Marketing Head: M Nikhil Reddy

Design & Layout: Srinivas T

Printed & Published byPandarinath Prabhala

on behalf of FAIR media,

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Flat No. 101, Babu Complex, SRK Puram,Hyderabad 500035, Mobile: 9666242767

Email: [email protected]©

WE SALUTE OUR POLICE MARTYRS

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On that fateful day, on October21, 1959, in the hostile terrain ofLadakh, 10 gallant policemen of

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) fellto enemies’ bullets in the altar of dutywhile safeguarding Indian territory fromChinese aggressors. Every year, policeforces all over India observe October 21as Police Commemoration Day, not onlyto pay homage to those brave ten, butalso to remember and revere hundredsof policemen, who continue to givetheir today for our better tomorrow.

These sacrifices are made whiledefending the country from externalthreats, fighting internal antisocialelements, disintegrating secessionists,insurgents, terrorists and extremistelements, communal and divisive forcesand criminals and ensuring peacefulconditions in society. Even as they aremaligned and derided by others,policemen have always lived up to theircredo – Duty unto Death. For thesebrave men, no bell tolls and a largesection of society, which makes a hueand cry when an anti-national elementor a terrorist dies in the hands ofpolice, remains insensitive to thedeaths of policemen while performingtheir duties. It is sad that theGovernment of India has not yetthought it fit to have a National PoliceMemorial in Delhi nor observe the PoliceCommemoration Day with duesolemnity.

Police, day in and day out, face theHamletian dilemma of to do or not todo. They opt for the former facinggrave risks to their lives. Statistics ofdeaths of policemen in the line of dutyis staggering and chilling. Nowhere inthe world, so many policemen make thesupreme sacrifices for their country. Aresearch study indicates that nearly 45

per cent of the deceased policepersonnel in India were under 35 and 10per cent of them were less than 25years of age indicating that they weresnatched away by death in the prime oftheir life. Since Independence, policefatalities are more than the fatalitiessuffered by the defense forces in thefour wars and the IPKF operations. Anti-national and anti-social forces are nowtargeting policemen and their families– casualties among them are beingincreasingly reported.

Can a liberal democracy afford toremain complacent in the face of thesefacts and figures? Shouldn’t an effort bemade to halt the trend and reverse thetide? It may be argued that risk to lifeis an occupational hazard forpoliceman. While an occasional loss oflife is unavoidable and inevitable, thestaggering numbers of deaths ascompared to other countries shouldmake us ponder over the causes andconsider possible solutions to reducepolice fatalities.

Lack of Role ClarityWhat is the role of police? Is police

a civilian organisation to prevent anddetect crime and maintain civil order asadumbrated in the Police Act of 1861 ora force to fight elements ofdestabilisation and low intensityconflicts? Police are armed, trained andmentally equipped to be an unarmedservice eschewing use of force andavoiding deaths to citizens in theiroperations. Legal and proceduralrequirements stress on this aspect.When pitted against the elements ofdestabilisation, police often find thatthey are ill-equipped, ill-trained andmentally not prepared to adapt toconditions of urban and rural guerrillawarfare. Even the paramilitary forces

are not trained or equipped specificallyto fight low intensity conflicts. It is hightime that the role police is clearlydefined and one wing of the police isspecially trained and equipped to dealwith low intensity conflicts andguerrilla warfare launched by theMaoists.

Review of Procedures and LegalNorms for Police Operations

At present, police are operatingunder legal norms and proceduresevolved over 100 years ago, when thesituation was idyllic. These norms arenow no way appropriate to deal withthe elements of destabilizationprevalent today. There should be aclear-cut differentiation between thelegal norms and procedures applicableto law abiding citizens and those to befollowed in respect of anti-nationalsand anti-socials who defy the existenceof the nation. As observed by anAmerican Jurist, Bill of Rights is not asuicide pact entered into by the USAwith its enemies for its owndestruction. While citizens, whosubscribe to the concepts of Rule ofLaw and Equality before Law and whoaccept the State as a holistic socialorganisation, should be entitled to haveall the rights and privileges guaranteedto the citizens by the very same systemwhich they seek to destroy.

Motivation and Morale of PoliceSelf-esteem is an essential

component to motivate humans. Policeare often condemned and denigrated asan organisation for the faults of a fewindividual members. Policemen areexpected to don the mantle of an idealcitizen and in spite of the best training,leadership and guidance, in large human

Are the police sacrificial lambs?

Dr. S. SUBRAMANIAN

Police, day in and day out, face the Hamletian dilemma of to door not to do. They opt for the former facing grave risks to theirlives. Statistics of deaths of policemen in the line of duty isstaggering and chilling. Nowhere in the world so manypolicemen make the supreme sacrifices for their country

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organisations, there will always be afew black sheep. While ruthless effortsare to be made to weed these out, theentire police organisation should not becondemned. People should supportpolice for their right actions and punishthe errant squarely. Media and non-governmental organisations can play avital role in this.

Separation of Law enforcement andOrder maintenance

One of the debilitating roles ofpolice is order maintenance. Contrary topopular belief, Law and Order do not gohand in hand and law is not aninstrument of order and frequently it isits adversary.

Order under Law implies rationalrestraint upon rules and proceduresused to achieve Order. Order under Law,subordinates the ideal of conformity tothe ideal of legality. Order maintenancedemands initiative and quick action andLaw emphasises on procedures andcircumspection and demands conformitywith procedures and adherence tonorms or legality.

As it happens during communal riotspolicemen have to enforce Orderagainst the will of the society. On suchoccasions, policemen become theislands of sanity amidst the ocean ofhatred and bigotry.

There is an urgent need to bifurcatethe roles of Law Enforcement and OrderMaintenance by having two distinct

wings in the police service.

Empower the PolicePolice need functional autonomy

when dealing with elements ofdestabilisation. They are to be providedwith the required legal, administrative,financial and infrastructural support.Since police are meant to serve thepeople, people should take activeinterest in forcing the government toprovide the required tools to the police.The police modernisation programme ofthe Government of India is too meagerand ineffective to deal with themultiple threats being faced by thecountry.

Give up Police BashingSociety should realise that policing

is its own function and policeorganisation is only a substitute to sparethem from actual physical participation.Active cooperation between the publicand the police are required and NGOsand public-spirited citizens can promotethis. Police bashing should be given upas the favourite pastime and insteadpolice backing should become thecredo. An indifferent society will get anindifferent and inefficient policeservice. Constant interaction and closesupervision by the society will keep thepolice organisation in the right path.Police leadership should also ensurethat there is more transparency in theworking of the police organisation to

invoke public confidence andcooperation.

Civil Society – Be Truly CivilIt is heartrending to see well-

meaning members of civil society, whoshed copious tears when an anti-national, militant or a disintegrationistis killed or maimed in police operations,keep mum when police personnel arekilled in cold blood. Are the policepersonnel not citizens of India who areentitled to enjoy the same privilegeslike any other citizen in the country? Orshall they remain sacrificial lambs of thesociety? It is time, the so called civilsociety activists realised theirobligations to protect impartially allcitizens which include policemen.

Society Gets the Police it Wants Police are there to protect the

society from unlawful elements. Qualityof a society is reflected on the qualityof police service it has. Unless thesociety takes active interest in creatingan ethical and lawful policeorganisation, the quality of police inIndia will not improve. Police in Indiahas stood as a bulwark against all forcesof disintegration and destabilisation andlet the society help it to continue toprovide peaceable conditions to enablethe nation to become a prosperous andpowerful one.

(The author is Padmashri awardeeand former Director General of CRPFand NSG and Founder Director of SPG)

For people the National Police Dayon October 21 ‘might be a special

occasion as it reminds of our policeforce's valour, DSP Karam Singh, theman who, on this day in 1959 gavetough time to the enemy in theHotsprings conflict, which, proved tobe the prelude to the 1962 Sino-Indiawar. DSP Karam Singh, hailing fromGujjranwala in Pakistan, settled inRaikot in Ludhiana district afterpartition of the country, was ondeputation with a central intelligenceagency and posted in the Ladakh areaas part of a contingent in view ofsuspicious activities in the region onthe part of certain anti-nationalelements.

He was heading a company of 19personnel, patrolling the Hotspringsarea as usual on October 21 when he,and his team was ambushed by Chinesetroops in what was later described asonset of the growing Chineseintolerance towards India.

The team ‘comprising mostlyofficials of border intelligence agenciesrepulsed the attack in a rare show ofcourage and nearly 10 of them lostlives while, rest of them, including,DSP Karam Singh, were captured byChinese troops and detained in harshconditions. They were, released onNovember 14, 1959, by China followingintervention of then Foreign MinisterKrishna Menon.

Karam Singh, who, had lost toes tofrostbite, was honoured with thePresident’s Medal by then PrimeMinister Jawaharlal Nehru. Since thenthe nation started observing the day asthe National Police Day.

HOTSPRINGS HERO KARAM SINGH

On 1959 October 21stAksai Chin, a place ofhot springs, at 18000

feet above sea level, is a partof Ladakh in Indian border.Like every day Indian soldierswere on their routine. Butthat day was different. Theguards, who are keeping theirmother land under strictsurveillance, abruptlyconfronted Chinese intrudersin large numbers. Despitetheir limited strength, IndianCRPF combatants didn’t moveback. They geared themselvesup to attack Chinese intruderswith full vigor and courage.Warfare of equals went on inwhich 10 CRPF warriors losttheir lives. They sacrificedtheir lives for protecting thecountry. Puran Singh, SharwanDas, Hang Jeet Subho, ImanSingh, Dharam Singh, ShivnadhPrasad, Norbu Lama, Makhan Lal, BegRaj, and Nonbu forfeited their lives inthat gruesome incident.

This uncompromising war by 10warriors filled the policemen acrossthe country with indomitable moralfibre. Together this unpleasant waralso packed the hearts of crores ofIndians with gloominess. By fightingan unbending war in the process ofprohibiting rival soldiers intrusion,they have not only stood as rolemodels to fellow soldiers, but also asa source of inspiration. And this classof warriors only could publish thegreatness of India and safeguard thecountry’s self-worth.

In a meeting of Police InspectorGenerals' of all states, which tookplace in January 1960, it was decidedthat on every October 21st, homageshould be paid to policemen who losttheir lives while performing duties inthe memory of those 10 soldiers wholost their lives at Aksai Chin. Sincethen, October 21st of every year isbeing observed as “Police MartyrsCommemoration Day”

Several policemen are sacrificingtheir lives every year in the throes ofprotecting peace in the country.Unfortunately majority of people arenot recognizing such prized andvalued sacrifices. But common public

express sympathy for them who die innatural disasters like hurricanes orearth quakes. Similar case with thesoldiers who forgo their lives in wars.But not evincing any sympathy onpolicemen who lose their lives in dutyis definitely atrocious.

Everyone should remember thateven police are human beings. Theydo have their families. They havetheir share of troubles and tears.

A police officer's family will havethe same kind of sorrow if he dies induty like any other family in thesociety. Policemen are not immune topains or pressures. Such familieswhich lose the breadwinners in duty

will have to go through anumber of troubles andhassles.

If a policeman, who putshis life at stake to give apeaceful living to commonpeople, dies in duty,everyone should havecompassion and empathytowards his families.

If a police passes awaywhile trying to protect lawand order, such demise is notjust a loss to his family but tothe system. It is quite awfulto find that the society whichcomes down heavily on anymistake committed by policepersonnel stays indifferentand apathetic when it comesto recognizing the grandsacrifices made by them.Forget about praising suchsacrifices, an iota ofrecognition of such

forfeitures is missing. But for thepolice personnel, whatever the kindof criticism they face from public,they should conduct their dutieswithout any prejudice and get duehonours from common public.

It is our minimum responsibility tocommemorate the great souls, thepolice, who keep all the pleasuresaside. Let us pay the reverence in thememory of their services byexpressing our gratitude and respondto their families sympathetically. Letus rededicate ourselves the sacredpolice profession.

(The author is Palle Anjaneyulu,a journalist)


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Homage to thePatriotic Warriors

Everyone should remember that even police arehuman beings. They do have their families. Theyhave their share of troubles and tears. A policeofficer's family will have the same kind of sorrow ifhe dies in duty like any other family in the society

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D. KAMAL

Eswar…. Ever smiling and alwaysjovial…. This constable easilybefriends and greets everyone

cheerfully. The pride of being apoliceman and a public servant shinesbrightly on his face. The self-respectof being a people’s protector is all tooevident in his cheerful demeanor.

Eswar works in Hyderabad’sShameerpet, which is an outskirt area.This friendly and cheerful young lad,who always yearned to be a do-gooder,made the supreme sacrifice in the callof the duty. In death, he showed hiscourage, valour and duty-mindedness.

That fateful day was like any otherday. He reported to the duties andcheerfully saluted SI Venkat Reddy.The SI, who was impressed by thespring in his gait and twinkle in theeyes, asked him to get ready for theoperation. Eswar, who believed in doand die not in asking what and why,said yes and moments later, he wasready and raring to go.

Soon, a police party was formedwith three constables, includingEswar, and Venkat Reddy. They allposed like students of engineering.

The task was to nab a gang involved inpeddling counterfeit currency to

destabilize India’s economy.The gang was ruthless and criminal

in its intent and action. The gang wasled by dreaded Yellam Goud and was

armed to the hilt. They ruthlesslyeliminated anyone who crossed theirpath.

The police team tried twice tomeet Yellam Goud gang in the guise ofprospective counterfeit peddlers. Thegang came up to Siddipet, but did notmeet them in person. They latercalled the team and told them tocome to Majid Crossroads near Mirpet.The police team met them andinteracted with them. But, thecunning foxes that the gang memberswere, they grew suspicious. Theyattacked the team with swords. Eswarwas stabbed indiscriminately. Eswarsoon slumped into a pool of blood.They tried to shoot SI Venkat Reddy.When he escaped, they attacked himwith swords and grievously injured.Both Venkat Reddy and Eswar wererushed to the hospital, but Eswarsuccumbed en route.

The police later ended the free runof the gang. All the members are nowcooling their heels in the prison cells.But, the operation saw Eswar makingsupreme sacrifice.

As a journalist, I get to meetseveral police personnel and haveexperiences galore about theirgallantry and gall. How they risk theirlives and how they venture into dangerzones utterly unmindful of the deathlurking somewhere surprise me. Thederring-do of the men in Khaki is thestuff that legends are made. Imaginewhat would our nation be withoutpolicemen. There are countlessConstables like Eswar who have madesupreme sacrifices so that we may livein peace.

(The author is Senior Journalist)

The police team tried twice to meet Yellam Goud gangin the guise of prospective counterfeit peddlers. Thegang came up to Siddipet, but did not meet them inperson. They later called the team and told them tocome to Majid Crossroads near Mirpet. The police teammet them and interacted with them. But, the cunningfoxes that the gang members were, they grewsuspicious. They attacked the team with swords. Eswarwas stabbed indiscriminately.

Eswar...The Great Warrior


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Ifurther inquired and found that dueto the constraints of training capacity,lack of instructors, class rooms,

parade grounds and weapons, the Statetraining institution could take only twoconstables from my district.

I took up the matter with theInspector General of Police, as the Chiefof Police was then called. I received acurt reply that my district will have towait its turn to get the policementrained. Being only 25 years old, I wasfired with enthusiasm to improve thestandard of policing. I decided to act onmy own. As the district head, I could callpolicemen for up to ten days for anyduty. I ordered that each police stationshould depute two policemen fortraining. Some SHOs rang me up, sayingthat they had only eight constables toman 56 villages. With two vacancies, andone or two on leave, policing was alwaysa problem. So with great difficulty theycould send one policeman each fortraining. I had no option but to agree. Istarted the programme of training bypulling in the serving officers asinstructors.

I also observed that Police Stationshad no furniture, not even enoughstationary, or even chairs for thevisitors. When I wanted to sanction twochairs per police station, my accountsofficer pointed out that my power wasonly to incur an expenditure of Rs, 20 forwhich at that time, you could purchaseonly one chair. I did so, and spent aprincely sum of Rs18 for buying one chairper police station

When I proposed in the State levelDistrict Police Chief Conference to givea weekly off to the Police men, I waslaughed at. I was asked how I wouldmeet any emergency. When I said that itis not physically possible for a person towork day after day for twelve hours, the

chief said that I could try it in mydistrict, which I did successfully.

The position obviously has notchanged, even after six decades ofindependence as the then homeminis¬ter has admitted in the first weekof June, 2010 saying that the sorry stateof affairs of policing in the country is dueto the "inade¬quate and ill-equippedpolice forces as well as insufficientnumber of police station. “We need toat least double the police strength andcre¬ate necessary infrastructure toimpart them quality train¬ing to improvethe policing in the country,” he said.

He had frankly confessed that "Of thesanctioned posts of 21 lakhs in all ranksin the police departments in the states,nearly 3,35,000 posts are currently lyingvacant. Thus, the police-populationratio for the whole country is about 160per 1,00,000 persons, which is muchlower than the inter¬national norm of243….In a state like Bihar, the number isabout 75: In UP it is about 115, in AndhraPradesh it is about 125, in Odisha it isabout 135, in Chhattisgarh andJharkhand, two states most affected byLeft wing extremism, it is about 205,"

Admitting, that not only there arenot enough police stations, many manypolice stations lack required strength ofpolice¬men, while some police stationsexist only in name. Most states have notyet created infrastructures to imparteven basic training to con¬stables.

It is not that the police is full ofangels. It has its own share corrupt,dishonest and inefficient personnel, asin the rest of the Government. But thepoint is that how do you expect it toperform efficiently without giving it thewherewithal.

Neither equipping or training thepolice nor making it people-friendly is onthe agenda of any government, despite

the brave statements made by thepowers that be. How do you expect thepolice to fight the Maoists withantiquated weaponry and equipmentand without transport facility or nightvision devices.

The problem in our country is notlack of ideas, but that ofimplementation. There is a plethora ofcommittees, which have gone into thesubject of reform in the CriminalJustice, System and Police. CommitteesAfter Committees And Commissions AfterCommissions. But Net Result Is Zero

“There can be no doubt that thePolice Force throughout the country is ina most unsatisfactory condition, thatabuses are common everywhere. Thatthis involves great injury to the peopleand discredit to the Government andthat radical reforms are urgentlynecessary”, was the view of the PoliceCommission 1902-1903, set up by theBritish Government. The National PoliceCommission of 1977-81 of independentIndia under the Chairmanship of lateGovernor Dharmavira observed; “Whatthe Police Commission said in 1903appears more or less equally applicableto the conditions obtaining today”.Kerala , West Bengal, Punjab,Maharashtra, Madhya , Delhi, Assam, UP,Tamilnadu, and practically every statehas a State Police Commission, or aCommittee report, apart from a dozencommittees set up by the CentralGovernment

The list does not include otherCommittees set up almost every year,either by the Central or StateGovernments to tone up, and suggestways and means to improve the workingof the police. Even the September, 2006orders of the Supreme Court to bringabout police reforms have been resistedby a large of number of States, who do

Police reforms:Now is the time

JOGINDER SINGH

When I joined as Bidar District Police Chief on firstpromotion in the Indian Police Service on June, 23, 1965, I

was shocked that to discover that 60% of the 465policemen of the district had not undergone any training

not want to let go the control of policeto enable it to function as per the law.

If the Committees and Commissionsreports could improve, our countrywould have already become a heaven.Since the last UPA Government cameinto power, it has created over 80panels on every conceivable problemfacing the country, right from theconservation of the tigers to improvingknowledge through knowledgeCommission. It is estimated that variousgovernments between 1990 and 2002had constituted 170 panels andcommittees.

This fits in with a standardoperating law of Indian politics whichsays that instead of solving a problem,set up a committee and anotherCommittee to examine former’srecommendations. One Committee or aCommission leads to another and thisgame goes on, with no hope for thecommon man.

Obviously, those who matter andcan bring about improvement are safelycushioned in comfortable environs.

Unless the Government of Indialeads in reforming the police and takefull responsibility of funding andtraining the police, both the Policemenand common people will continue tosuffer.

Expectations from the PoliceThe citizen expects police officers

to have the wisdom of Solomon, thecourage of David, the strength ofSamson, the patience of Job, theleadership of Moses, the kindness of theGood Samaritan, the faith of Daniel,the tolerance of the Carpenter ofNazareth ( Jesus Christ), and finally, anintimate knowledge of every branch ofthe natural, biological, and socialsciences. If he had all of these, hewould be a good policeman.

Allow the police to Work withoutShackles

Police can manage and its excellentleadership can deliver, provided theyare freed from the shackles of thebureaucrats, who exercise all authority,but no responsibility. Enough is enoughand now is the time for action, if theproblems associated with the internalsecurity like insurgency, infiltration andMaoists are to be terminated.(The author is former CBI Director)

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Asense of derring-do andcommitment to the call of theduty are making the ordinary

constables to risk their lives and putthemselves to extreme dangers. Everytime a cop chases a criminal, thedanger of falling to a bullet alwayslurks close behind. The danger ofbeing attacked by the criminal gangsis too real to be ignored.

Take the case of the hapless butcourageous constable patrolling in thedead of the night at Delhi’s ConnaughtCircus. The drug mafia fired at him.Though they managed to escape thebullets, it was their closest possibleencounter with death.

Barely days after this shootout,hardened criminal Firoz Fouji felledconstable Shivraj Tomar in Delhi.Though armed only with a lathi,Shivraj did not shirk away from his callof duty. He tried to nab armed-to-the-teeth Firoz.

On September 27, unidentifiedbikers snatched the service revolver ofconstable Dharampal near Mauzpurand shot him dead. Dharampal died inharness, in the call of duty and inhonour of the khaki cap.

On October 2, constable Sonaramand home guard Ramesh were notfound wanting in their duty. They wereinspecting the papers of bikers in thebusy Dwaraka area. But, one biker wasin undue haste and this raised theirsuspicion. As they demanded to seethe papers, the pillion rider whippedout a revolver and fired at them. Thebullets pierced through Sonaram’shands. Ramesh had injuries in hisback. Yet, they showed exemplarycourage and fought on bravely. Theymanaged to overpower the criminalsdespite their bleeding injuries andburning pain. It later turned out thatthe bikers were hardcore criminalsMohammad Ali and Nasir Sultan.

On October 13, criminals fired at

the patrolling cops in Delhi’s VijayVihar area killing one and injuringanother. Both the constables saw fewpeople lurking suspiciously in anautorickshaw in the dead of the nightin the L Block of Street No 7. The copsshouted ‘halt’ and advanced towardsthem. But, those inside the auto hadother plans. They whipped up their

guns and began firing indiscriminately.Constable Jagbir died on the spot,while another constable – Narender –suffered gun wounds in the back.

Despite the technical advancesand the modern policing equipment,the lives of the cops manning thestreets are ever in danger of anattack. Illegal weapons of criminalsare endangering the cops’ lives.Despite their, the policeman on thestreet wants to bash on regardless.

-M. Harshit Choudary

Cop on the street always at risk

Yet, they showed exemplarycourage and fought onbravely. They managed tooverpower the criminals

despite their bleeding injuriesand burning pain. It later

turned out that the bikers werehardcore criminals

Mohammad Ali and NasirSultan

The peace that our society enjoystoday did not come that easy. Withlimited resources and

unsophisticated weapons, our policeforce had to sacrifice many lives in theprocess of getting rid of the left wingextremism from Andhra Pradesh andbring back social order to the society.

It has been a gory story of bloodshedand murders. It cost the police forcelives of hundreds of its young officersand constables in the combat againstthose extremists who had resorted tomindless attacks on policemen.

The Naxalite problem began inAndhra Pradesh way back in 1966 whenthe movement gained momentum inWest Bangal after the Naxalbariincident. Scores of youngsters fromSrikakulam and Visakhapatnam districtswere attracted to the Naxalite ideologyand left their studies in universities tojoin the Naxalbari movement.

Violence was rampant in Srikakulamdistrict in those days. Hacking ofzamindars, lootingmoney and foodgrainsand distributing them among poor wasthe order of the day. Concrete stepswere taken by the then government andthe police department, particularlyunder the leadership of Vengal Rao.However, during the Emergency in 1975-77, the Naxalite movement lost itsinfluence in the society due to sternactions by the police.

After the 1977 general elections, theCongress was defeated and a newgovernment was formed by The JanataParty, which was sympathetic towardsNaxalite leadership. Also, the Naxaliteleaders who were arrested duringemergency came in contact with JanataParty leaders in prisons. As a result,

commissions were appointed againstencounters, cases were registeredagainst many police officers in differentstates.

TheNaxalite leaders did not stopthere. Instead, they intensified theirefforts to restart the movement.Thistime, several front organisationswere started. Separate organisationswere formed for students,advocates,youth and farmers and farmlabourers while armed units remainedunder cover and led the movementahead.

The front organisations printedpamphlets, filed cases in various courtsincluding High Court against policeofficials who worked hard. The outside

world was unaware of the propagandatactics and the Naxaliteviolence washushed up. Instead, the frontorganisations used to depict policeactions as oppressive acts.

The movement took several turns inAndhra Pradesh. For long,Naxalites usedto destroy public properties such asschool buildings, MDO and MRO offices,telephone exchanges and RTC buses.Later, radical youth organisations andfarm labourers organisations resorted toatrocities in villages. People were fed upand started slowly hating Naxalites.However, they preferred to keep mum asthe armed units of the extremistssupported the people up to certainextent. Naxalites used to create terror

VICTORPALVENKATESWARLUVENKAT NARAYANASAMBASIVA RAO

VIRAIHAVENKATESWERKLU D. RAMESH BABUSRINIVASA RAO

The Martyrs of Karkagudem (Khammam dist) land mine blast (1997)


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A Tale of Relentless Battle

H J DORA

In the process of subduing the left wing extremism,the State police force has lost hundreds of its valiantofficers and constables who fought a fierce battle

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by way of violence and also byorganising meetings with hugegatherings. They used to kill andmutilate their targets toterrorise people.

In the process, educatedyouth began distancing from themovement. Also, group warswithin the Naxalites startedsprouting apparently weakeningthe movement. Feudal andbureaucratic systems wereclearly visible in the movement.

However, it has to beadmitted that the policedepartment was left behind intackling Naxalites due to whichNaxalites went on strengtheningtheir arms base. People,elected representatives andemployees were left with noother option but to follow theirdiktats. Businessmen alsodanced to their tunes. In theprocess,Naxalites beganattacking police stations to lootweapons and kill policepersonnel. People began losingconfidence in the policedepartment in the face ofNaxalite attacks as police couldnot protect themselves and thepolice stations.

In this backdrop, it wasnecessary to give better trainingto the police personnel whowere fighting the extremists.Along with training, modernweapons and other gears wereprocured from other countriesand supplied to the ground levelpersonnel. New police stationbuildings were constructed inplace of the old ones, whichwere equipped to withstandNaxalite attacks.Communication system wasmodernised and the intelligencesystem beganfunctioningeffectively.

The moment police startedfighting back at the armedunits, people began reposingconfidence in the police again.Steps were taken to improveself-confidence among the APSP,Greyhounds and Reserve Policepersonnel and severalincentives were given to them.

Compensation was given tothose killed in encounters andpromotions were given to thosewho arrested and killed Naxaliteleaders in encounters.

It was then the Naxaliteleaders and rebels startedsurrendering to the police. Thesurrendered Naxalitesexpressed their interest tojointhe mainstream. Aconducive atmosphere wascreated for the surrenderedNaxalites by speaking to thegovernment andannouncing apolicy for the rehabilitation.Scores of Naxalites wereattractedto the policy and themovement was weakened.

Also, several armed dalamswere wiped out and Naxaliteslost scores of weapons whilemany othersjoined mainstreamdue to which the movement wasbadly damaged. Having no otheroption, the Naxalitesmovedaway from Andhra Pradesh toother parts of the countrywhere they were safer.

All this could happen onlybecause of the supremesacrifices made by scores ofpolicemen and officers.

Most of those who laid downtheir lives were very young andhad families to support. Theyjust began their lives withdreams of having a betterfuture, but all dreams shatteredwhen they fell to the bulletsand bomb blasts. It isheartrending to see theirfamilies, living in eternal griefand misery. Due to theirsupreme sacrifices, AP Policetoday has earned so muchrespect from the people. Policepersonnel of all ranks worked asa team and achieved resultsquickly.It is truly a miracle thata 40-year-old atrocious andviolent movement hascompletely been wiped out.Ipay my respects to all thosepolice personnel who madesacrifices in the line of duty.

(The Author is former DGPof AP)

“Beta… We arehere to

protect the lives ofthe civilians. If weworry about ourown life, how willwe be able to savetheir lives? How canwe discharge ourduties fearlessly?”

These were thewords that BuchiReddy utteredwhen his son askedhim about Naxal threat to his life. And whenthe crunch time came, Buchi Reddy was notfound wanting. He took the Maoist bullets onthe chest and breathed his last in the campoffice.

“That was November 6, 1986. It was about8.45 PM. The Naxals attacked my father in astealthy way,” recalls Buchi Reddy’s son AshokReddy.

Buchi Reddy hailed from a family of farmersthat had little education, but gave a portion oftheir home to house a primary school. He didhis post-graduation before joining the police.

“My father was a conscientious policeofficer. He was always posted in sensitive areasand was never found wanting in the dischargeof his duties. He was always known as a toughofficer,” Ashok Reddy recalls.

“When criminals were arrested, he used tofirst counsel them. He used to explain to themwhat would befall on their families. Thisbrought a change in the criminals. Many ofthem shunned the wrong path and gotreformed,” says Ashok Reddy.

As Peddapalli DSP, he had fought the Naxalviolence. He eliminated 11 Naxalites, five ofthem eliminated in one shootout. “My father’sdriver used to alert us about the lurking dangerof Naxal attack. But, my father always brushedthose threats aside. For him, call of duty wasmore important than his own life,” says AshokReddy.

Buchi Reddy was born at Faizabad in Medakdistrict on June 2, 1934 and died on November6, 1986. In between, he led a life ofdedication, dexterity and determination.

Brave Heart Buchi Reddy


11

Ibelieve to optimize everything whatis within my limits. The need of thepeople of Hyderabad in particular

and AP or Telangana in general. In viewof the repeated occurrence of terroristincidents, is what can we deliver tothem with whatever we have today.That means to what extent we optimizeourself.

I would like to focus my discussion tothat part of it and rest of the things likepolicies and structural changes thatrequired are heard from my seniorsfrom this dias just now.

I believe take care of pound andthen penny will take care of itself. Wehave resources with us, we haveproblems with us let us try to analyzewhether we have the capacity to handlethis situation and whether we areprepared or not.

Our police has the capacity to facethis kind of challenges. I agree withthat. Then my next question to that onbehalf of the public to the police thatwhether our preparedness is enough ornot. We have the capacity but whetherwe are prepared or not.

Concerned citizens have beeninteracting with me and have beenspitting their venom on the policeaction. Sometimes rightly andsometimes in an exaggerated manner.But they probably failed to structuretheir thoughts to two factors to why isit happening and why incidents areoccurring repeatedly.

And is it occurring in spite of thebest efforts of the police and thegovernment or otherwise. That is thequestion. Well if you look into this I amnot trying to list out the for and againstthe points. Nevertheless, it is importantto some understand the factors that areresponsible for such type of incidentsand what is the remedy there of.

I would divide the factors that areresponsible for any incident to beoccurring and recurring to some internalfactor inside the police and

administration and also some externalfactor. I will not hesitate to mentionsome points which may sound that I amin defense of none. Well, there is noneed to defend anybody for that matter.Only you have to defend and come tothe rescue of the public and the publicinterest, rule of law and the spirit of theConstitution. I think we should defendthat alone and nobody else.

When I make that stand clear I haveno hesitation to admit that there havebeen inadequate performance by policehas been marked in the adequate level.Adequate level is very dynamic concept.It goes on changing but in the presentcontext let me say without anyhesitation that level of policeeffectiveness , level of impact ofpolicing needs to be increased to a greatextent.

Are the police resources enough tomeet the challenges. I am notmentioning this point in defense ofpolice but then reality must beaccepted and corrective measures haveto be found in that context. I would saythat the requirement of policing has notbeen adequately met in terms ofresources, logistics, policy support andthe finances. it has not been. Thereforewhen we come to the correctivemeasures these need to be addressed.

We want to play safe on two pointsoften - accountability at the higher leveland the police leadership. These arevery delicate issues. And when we try todefine police leadership at variouslevels everybody tries to justify thatleadership has been very inspiring.

If leadership has been inspiring thenwhy performance is not equallyinspiring. That is one thing as a policeofficer I keep on introspecting myself.

I think the leadership needs to riseabove many petty things and becomeinspiring for the force so that policemenat every point of time can optimizethemselves. When I come to the pointof accountability there is hardly any

accountability fixed even for veryextraordinary happenings in the societyon the senior police officers. I do notwant to make it personal for anybodyand I am telling in general. If I am thereand I have failed, I need to be punishedand told ‘look you haven’t done thisand therefore you don’t deserve thisplace’. Accountability has to be fixedvery dispassionately and in an effectivemanner.

Having told about accountability andthe leadership, there is anotherimportant inadequacy. As a policeofficer I witnessed several types ofcrises of this nature and differentnature. I am sorry to say that aspecialized agency is not required andone particular agency can look afterthat job adequately.

Will there be some ground in sayingthat a particular existing unit of thepolice can be strengthened to meet theemerging challenges. But if you look atit very closely and assess theperformance of each unit, I strongly feelthat there is a need for dedicated anda specialized expert unit under one roofwhich can handle this kind of situationwith a single minded devotion.

When I say that I refer to oneorganization that was created calledOctopus - Organization for CounterTerrorist Operation in Andhra Pradeshpolice. I strongly believe and havereasons to justify that the extraordinarysituation has to be met with theextraordinarily capable agency. And itshould have a single minded devotionfor that.

It should have the operational unit,it should have intelligence unit, itshould have investigation unit, it shouldhave training, logistics unit, it shouldhave a data analysis and interpretationunit.

Need of national willto fight against terrorism

AK MOHANTY

When I say that I don't mean to saythat these activities are absent in theexisting police organization. They arethere, but when I am saying that youneed to create and activateorganization like this, I only want toemphasize though it is there, it has notlived up to its expectation.

There is shortage of time to explainthis concept and network all theseactivities to prove that are equallyeffective. But it should be sufficient tomention to this audience that this is anecessity and I agree with it that thisshould be created and since theinstitution is existing to meet thischallenge in Hyderabad, it needs to beactivated and made full fledgedforthwith.

When I come to external factors, Iwould like to say, which is very commonand we try to dodge, that is thepoliticization of police and politicalpatronage of police officer and politicalintimidation to the police officer. I amgoing into the ground level discussionwhat is true because then only we cancorrect ourselves and then only we candeliver a better service.

If you are not patronized your areintimidated. I think I don’t have torepeatedly say that. It is existing and allof you know about it. So these externalfactors need to be neutralized.

The administrative and financialresistance to police proposal is age oldin government. No sooner I say that Ineed 30 patrolling vehicles,immediately objection from the financeis t that how were you managing allthese years. For instance, if I want toconstruct a over head tank for drinkingwater, a strange logic comes from thefinance that how were you managingwithout drinking water for all theseyears.

You can always object to anyproposal because in the back of mind ofadministration a feeling has crept inthat the more you give to the police, itwill become more powerful and theadministration will become lesspowerful. Therefore, I have to go roundand round of decision makers to beg forfour policemen here, one vehicle there,one light there, one sentry post there.This is what is going on and this is alsoseverely affecting the police efficiency.

Another important external factorwhich is very important here. I will not

12

HEROES WHO SAVEDPARLIAMENT

SURAJ V BHARADWAJ

It was the most dastardly attack. Thehighest seat of Indian authority,

symbol of its sovereignty and thetemple of the democracy was underattack on 13 December 2001. It was aday when darkness of terrordescended on Indian Parliament. But,it was also the time when securitypersonnel on duty lit up the lamps ofcourage by burning their lives.

Five terrorists tried to bulldozetheir way into Parliament. Theyrammed the car of Vice-PresidentKrishnakanth, got out and began firingindiscriminately. CRPF jawan KamleshKumari, who was posted at Iron GateNo 1, just next to Building Gate No 11,the main entrance for VVIPs coming toParliament, was the first to noticethem. At around 11.40 AM, she heardgunshots and grenade blasts. Kamleshwasn't armed to fight anyone, least ofall terrorists on a suicide mission.Despite this, she did not waver fromher duty. She ran towards the maingate and shut it. The terrorists shother killing on the spot. Eleven bulletsstruck her in the belly killing herinstantaneously. She died but heralertness ensured that the terrorists’design stood completely foiled.

The security personnel on dutyshot dead the terrorists in a gun fight

that lasted more than an hour. But,this success was not without its price.Five policemen, a Parliament securityguard, and a gardener were killed,and 18 others were injured. But, notone of our MPs and leaders wereallowed to be attacked. Today, whileAfzal Guru is a pseudo-secular iconand peons are sung to him, martyrslike Kamlesh Kumari and others areconsigned to be mere footnotes in thelong history of terrorism in India.

(The Author is Senior Journalist)


13

say political will, but I will just take it littlebeyond. I will say there is no national will to putdown terrorism. We need to arise a national willfor this. We have been talking in terms of publiccooperation. That is fine. But we need to create anational will to fight terrorism.

It is not the problem of any particular a cityalone. No doubt state owes a great responsibilityto stop this kind of activity in urban centers. Wecan certainly do it if we commit ourselves and tothe cause. But why are we not doing this?

Having said this I also suggest measures that aresupposed to be translated in the ground level righttoday so that people feel safe and secure and haveconfidence in police. We have been saying topeople that you come forward and help us. It is notenough. I must first deliver. People must getconvinced that I have optimised myself and cannotdeliver any further. Then only they will comeforward and it is right at that level to come forwardand help the police.

Let us strengthen all of us, strengthen basic andfundamental policing in every location. Make itdifficult for the criminal to operate to ensureprevention. How will you do that? Very simple.Make the patrolling and beat service effective.Make the police visible. If police is visible, anycriminal will find it difficult to operate at his will.Frequently conduct surprise checks, frisking, anti-sabotage checks using dog squads on a regularbasis, not as a symbol or token after the incident.So, strengthen basic and fundamental policing forwhich we don't have to wait for anything. Othersupport mechanisms are necessary.

I have already talked about the politicizationand political intimidation and I don't want to dwellupon that. But I would certainly try to say thataccountability is another important thing works inthe minds of many people.

What do you mean by accountability? Oneincident had occurred and ‘X’ should be suspendedis not accountability. It has to be viewed in thecontext whether the responsibility and theresources that are available with a particularofficer have been optimized or otherwise. If notthen he is accountable. If you start fixing upaccountability at the leadership level keeping inview the various levels of leadership, I am sure theforce will get activated and do their best.

And when I said that don't dilute my demand forstrengthening the police force in this country.Challenges are many and I need to bestrengthened, need to be enabled to do betterpolicing. And every one of us should stand by theirproposal. So, give the resources and give strengthand thereafter ask the questions.(Shri A K Mohanty is Former-DGP of AP, This is jist ofShri Mohanty’s address at a seminar organised by

APUWJ at Hyderabad on 21st March, 2013)

KASHYAP ADDANKI

It was Novembermorning in 1992 andcolder days were just

setting in. AdditionalSuperintendent of PoliceKrishna Prasad was aboutto have breakfast when hereceived a phone call.Despite being a diabetic,he decided to foregobreakfast and left foroffice telling his wife thathe has to go. Around 2 pmshe called him up toenquire whether he hadhis grub. She also asked him whether he took medicines. KrishnaPrasad replied in the affirmative and said he had an importantassignment. He also told her that he might come home late.

The important assignment was to nab Kashmiri terrorists whowere taking shelter in a hideout in Brindavan Colony in Tolichowki.The hideout was identified on the basis of the inputs given by twosuspected terrorists nabbed a day before. He took his team to thehideout. While few men were with the nabbed terrorists whopointed at the hideout, he and his gunman Venkateswar Rao,knocked at the door.

The terrorists, who became alert, sent their female associatesto open the door. The female associates tried to prevent KrishnaPrasad and his gunman from entering the house, to enable theterrorists load their automatic rifle.

The terrorists opened fire and head constable Venkateswar Raowas the first to receive the bullet wounds. He slumped down.Krishna Prasad returned the fire. The women associates rushed outof the house raising false alarm. The courageous soldier that hewas, Krishnaprasad stepped in only to be greeted by an unfriendlyand indiscriminate firing. . He went down fighting. They wererushed to Osmania Hospital only to be declared brought dead.

However, his sacrifice did not go in vain. The female associatesof the terrorists, who also came to Osmania Hospital for treatment,were nabbed and the entire module was busted. During subsequentyears, the terrorists who killed Krishna Prasad and his gunman werekilled in exchange of fire with security personnel in Kashmir.

(The Author is Senior Journalist)

COURAGE, THY NAMEIS KRISHNA PRASAD

He knew his service pistol was nothingin front of the sophisticated fire arms ofcold-blooded terrorists. Yet, he foughtwith valour, till he fell to the bullets

sprayed from AK 56

14

This was the first everinstance of an Indian

policeman dying for thecountry. It was then decidedat a high-level meeting ofthe police officials onJanuary 9, 1960, to observethe day of this historicsacrifice as the PoliceMartyrs CommemorationDay. Since then, October21became an occasion toremember and recall thesacrifices of the policemartyrs and to stand by the bereaved families. It is asolemn occasion to pay rich homage to the departed souls.

The job of a policeman is not a bed of roses, but apath full of thorns. It calls for great commitment and is a24-hour job that calls for extreme endurance and supremededication. One cannot imagine a society sans policeman.When in trouble, the first one that comes to mind is apolice man. From the rich to the poor, everyone findssuccour in police in times of trouble.

If the brave jawans defend the country from externalenemies, the police protect the country from internalsabotage and provide safety and security to men andmaterials alike. The job of the police is to put thecriminals and anti-social elements under the leash. In thecall of this duty, they are utterly unmindful of their ownsafety and security. For the police, serving the people isserving God. The society expects those in the realm ofsocial service to be honest, dedicated, humane andbrimming with the spirit of sacrifice. It’s not just what youdid that matters. It’s how you did that really matters. Thesociety expects the police personnel to posses these verysame qualities.

Spirit of sacrifice: When the whole world is engrossedin deep slumber, the police burn their midnight’s oil andstay awake for the safety and security of the people atlarge. They toil regardless of sun, rain and chill day in andday out. Not for them the pleasures of spending time withthe dear ones and enjoying festive occasion. It is our dutyto empathise with the police, who risk their lives for thesociety. They are ever ready to make the supremesacrifice for us. Yet, their sacrifices and services are sadlyunder-recognised and are largely unhonoured. It is outduty to recall those sacrifices and pay respects to thesemartyrs. It is time that we put behind few aberrationshere and there on the part of the men in Khaki and realizeand respect their sacrifices on this police martyrscommemoration day. That is the least that we can do tomake the police feel happy.

(The author is Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad)

The list of police martyrs is countless andthe gallantry endless…Every time there’sa challenge, a new story of bravery isetched and at every road turn, there’s amilestone of a martyr’s sacrifice. TheState capital of Hyderabad too has its

share of martyrs.ACP Sattaiah, on duty in the narrow

bylanes of the riot-torn Old City ofHyderabad, fell to Quadeer’s bullet. Theblood that flowed out from supremesacrifice added to the ochre of the skies atthe dawn. That was December 12, 1990.A year later, brave ACP Krishnaprasad diedbattling dreaded terrorists. He breathed his last, but notbefore busting a whole terror module.

On 12, 2005, a powerful bomb explosion ripped throughthe office of the commissioner of the task force in Somajiguda,barely a 100 metres from the then Andhra Pradesh ChiefMinister YS Rajasekhar Reddy’s official residence. Home GuardSatyanarayana, on duty at that fateful moment, died on thespot.

On May18, 2009 home guard Balaswamy was on duty atNagulabanda in the Old City. They were regulating the trafficand keeping peace. Suddenly, fanatic Viquaruddin and hisaccomplice came on a two-wheeler and fired indiscriminately.While constable Rajendraprasad suffered grievous injuries,Balaswami succumbed. Wily Viquar founded extremistorganization Tehrik e Galba Islam and was fomentingcommunal tensions in the city.

On May14, 2010, Viquar struck again,this time in Khilwat area of Old City. Therewas heavy police deployment in the Old Cityon the anniversary of Mecca Masjid Blasts.Constable Ramesh, a native of Madanapalle,was deployed at Khilwat. A masked Viquarcame on a bike and fired at the policepicket. While two of the constables had aprovidential escape, Ramesh wasn’t lucky enough.

These are no mere names and the dates are no merefootnotes of history. They tell the story of the continuoussaga of supreme sacrifice. Their memories should beperpetuated and their exploits should be told and retold forthe posterity. The police martyrs commemoration day is asolemn occasion to recall their sacrifices and pay ourhumble homage.

HYDERABAD’SHALL OF FAME

M. MAHENDER REDDY

Police sacrifices:Unhonoured


15

For 20 years, I have been feeling thispain….heart-wrenching, poignant

and afflictive…. I still remember andrelive those fateful moments, when heleft never to return…..

Sun was rising on the horizon…. Itwas as if there was a merciless slaughterin the sky.. My daughter was down withfever and I was attending to her,mopping her with a wet cloth… It wasthen that I saw him hurriedly gettingready. “SP sir (Surendra Babu) calledme. I need to guide the election staffthe route to the polling booth,” hescampered out hurriedly. He hadnothing… not even a cup of tea…

We were in Mahadevpur of

Karimnagar district in those days.He was to come

back by 6 PM. It wasalready 7 PM. I wasgetting worried.Anxious, I sat in theverandah. At about7.30 PM, I saw thepolice personnelcoming. There were quite a few.. … Buthe (SI Venkatswamy) was not amongthem. I found SP Surendrababu toocoming towards me. I saw pity in theeyes of the cops. “There was a landmineblast and our policemen sufferedinjuries. We have admitted them to thehospital. Do not worry. Everything is

going to be alright. We are doingeverything possible,” the officer tried tolook confident and non-challant. But,grief was writ large on his face.

I slumped down and couldn’t controlmyself. I began crying inconsolably. By9 PM, the news of his passing awaycame. My life lay shattered….Everything was dark….

Venkatswamy was affable. Everyoneliked him. He was very popular in thepolice department. He married off histwo sisters and always talked ofeducating the children. But, the Naxalsand the landmine they detonated knewno mercy. Naxals have turned my worldupside down and gave me tears thathaven’t dried up ever since.

(Palli Kusumakumari, wife of late Venkatswamy, SI)

The story of Ramavaram Martyrs1990s was the time when the police

had to tread with extreme caution.No one knew when a possible mine

hidden beneath the soil exploded. Nonewas aware how bullet whiz past them orpierce through their flesh and bones.Every road bend was a potential ambushwaiting to happen. Yet, the policemenmoved ahead, penetrated theunpenetrated hideouts and smoked outthe public enemies. They gave theirlives, but never lost sight of theirobjectives.

December 18, 1991….In the non-descript Ramavaram in

Karimnagar’s Husnabad mandal, theNaxals set an RTC bus ablaze. It was notan act of vendetta. It was a trap setwith cunning calculation and cold-blooded precision. Their target was todraw SI John Wilson into the trap andeliminate him.

December 19…Wilson knew it was a trap set

specifically for him. Yet, he did notswerve. He wanted to take the enemyhead on. He motivated his subordinatesand set out for Ramavaram. He chosenot to travel in a jeep in view of theobvious risk involved and boarded a bus

with CI Yadagiri, six CRPF jawans, a civilconstable, a driver, conductor and agram sevak. Soon… the bus was snakingthrough the treacherous route toRamavaram.

Those two men…As the bus was labouring its way,

they saw two suspicious persons keeping

a close watch on their movement. Theybecame alert and stopped the bus. Theytook both the characters into custodyand began interrogating them in thebus. The bus began to move. At about12 noon, they came close toRamavaram. It was then that there wasa deafening explosion. Everything wasblown to smithereens and every piece offlesh was burnt to ashes. It was all overin a few seconds and all the 12 personsaboard perished. It was a landminetriggered by the Maoists. It later turnedout that the two suspects were Maoistsdeployed to keep a tab on theirmovements.

This was one of the biggestambushes in the anti-Maoist counter-insurgency in Andhra Pradesh. Knowingfully well the possible consequences,they showed indomitable courage totaken on the enemy.

It was a huge setback for the police.But, the police recovered quickly andsmoked the Maoists out through preciseactions and well-directed operations.Today, the sacrifices of those policemenhave ensured that Ramavaram becamea land of peace. The villages are nowfree of Naxals and there is tranquilityand peace in the region.

-G. Adit, Journalist, Karimnagar

…And they brought him in a bag..!

Everything was blown tosmithereens and every

piece of flesh was burnt toashes. It was all over in afew seconds and all the 12persons aboard perished.

It was a landminetriggered by the Naxals

John WilsonYadaiah

16

October is the holy month for allcops.

So I can afford to speak from myheart.

I am not the one who had obsessionto wear uniform in my early life. Ijoined police by chance, not by choice.There were moments, even when Iregretted my decision. Strangely, themore I wanted to shed khaki, thestronger it stuck to my crust. ThisSeptember, I have touched themilestone of 18th year in myexpedition!

I had absolutely no idea aboutpeaks and valleys in this mission whileI was preparing for civil services or

during training. Only the pride of beingan IPS officer, carrying a gun, beingsaluted by people and other little perkskept me going initially. Honestly, Ididn’t have clear idea of the realpurpose. Nor was I mature enough tosearch for meaning in life.

But, the cold-blooded massacre of16 constables in a pre-dawn raid by theMaoist insurgents in Khammam districtin 1997 made me realize how perilousis the world of policemen. It did nottake much time to realize thatleadership is not just an ornamentalnoun, but a verb loaded with massiveresponsibility. Was I cut out for thistask? I wasn’t sure.

I took a step back. This was not thelife that I dreamt for, after a gruelingpreparation. None of the victims in theraid was my blood relative so as to seekvengeance. I could have led acomfortable life of scientist in thegreen houses without dying like thesehapless men. Many such thoughtsencircled me for quite a while. Mytrainer sensing my mood counseled meto not to waste this great opportunity.Instead work on “adapting toadversity” and “stay focused”. May behis words had a deeper purpose. So Iclung to khaki, unwillingly though.

It was during my tenure as AssistantSuperintendent of Police in Bellampalli

Heroes don’t live for Eulogies!

DR. RS. PRAVEEN KUMAR

The only light of hope in the entire gloom was a band of fewcommitted officers and men, who were willing to carry guns onone shoulder and coffin on the other. They always hid their painwith a veil of smile and salute. Are they not scared of death? Maybe not. They didn’t appear like that. Only loyalty mattered for

them. Where do we find such priceless loyalty?

Not just police, even policefamilies made supreme sacrifices

for the country. A case in point is UmaMaheshwari, mother of SIDharmendra. It was the deadly nightof March 11, 2005 when maraudingMaoists descended in drones onChilakaluripet police station inGuntur. Dharmendra was high onMaoist target list. When they couldnot find him in the police station, themarauders laid a siege to his quarters.Dharmendra’s mother UmaMaheshwari, wife and his childrenwere at home. As deathly terrorknocked the doors, Uma Maheshwarishut the doors quickly and rushed thechildren and daughter in law into thebed room. The Maoists initially triedto detonate the bedroom. When they

couldn’t, they tried to break the dooropen. But, Uma Maheshwari held thedoor tightly. Thinking Dharmendra was

blocking, the Maoists firedindiscriminately at the door. Onebullet pierced her chest. She felldown and lay lifeless in a pool ofblood, but not before she saved thechildren and daughter-in-law.Dharmendra, who managed to escapefrom the Maoist attack, came to knowof his mother’s supreme sacrifice onlythe next day. But, he did not forgetthe call of duty even the hour ofutmost grief. He first saluted hissuperior R Prasad, who too died in thedastardly attack. Then, he walkedslowly to where his mother’s mortalremains were kept.

His hands quivering, whole bodytrembling and eyes raininginconsolable tears. As he saw hismother, Dharmendra broke down.

MOTHER MAKES SUPREME SACRIFICE


17

in Adilabad district that I was struck withblandness of the challenge, desolateterrain, and coupled with ricketyatmosphere. But the incident of gruesomekilling of constables, Seshaiah andSanjeeva Reddy in the market ofBellampalli by the killer squad ofinsurgents barely five minutes after theyleft my office deeply impacted myattitude towards my men. It was not thegrief of their sudden death, but theresilience of the families that left meflummoxed. It gave me the access to theimpermeable world of our constabulary.How is that these people are so spiritedthat even death is not able to distractthem? Honestly, their resolve left meashamed. These are not the men who areenthused by accelerated promotions orpackets of cash reward we give them for‘good work’. There is something else. Thatcuriosity made me burrow deeper.

In Warangal, another epicenter ofconflict, I was maddened by thevengeance and violence that pervaded themyriad lanes, black granite boulder hills,and cotton fields. The only light of hopein the entire gloom was a band of fewcommitted officers and men, who werewilling to carry guns on one shoulder andcoffin on the other. They always hid theirpain with a veil of smile and salute. Arethey not scared of death? May be not.They didn’t appear like that. Only loyaltymattered for them. Where do we find suchpriceless loyalty?

I rarely cried after I grew as an adult.Policing further hardened my emotionalidentity. Even my father’s death couldn’tshake me, but death of my buddies likeSanjeev and Wesley in action suddenlydemolished the iron wall I had builtagainst such surge of emotions. What iscommon to all of us? May be the sametribal instinct of collective unconsciouspasses through all our neurons.

Pillutla Martyrs:

On November 16, 1997, the Maoists laid a death trap for the policethrough the jungle routes of Pillutla. They lured the police into their

trap by detonating the house of TDP leader Gopal Reddy. The police ledby Toopran DSP Balasubrahmanyam visited the village the next day. Hewas accompanied by CI Venkat Swamy, SB Zamadar Pentaiah, 12constables, locals Narsimha Reddy, Mutyalu, Nagireddy, Padmaiah andVenkatesh. They decided against going in a vehicle and went on foot asa precautionary measure. But, the Maoists blasted the landmine as theyreached a culvert en route. The DSP, CI, head constable Pentaiah,constables Laxman, Srinivas, Shujat Ali and local guide Narsimha Reddydied on the spot. The incident sparked an outrage and the public at largecondemned the Naxals for the dastardly attack. Sixteen years after theattack, the people still recall the martyrdom. A statue ofBalasubrahmanyam was installed in Toopran. On every November 17 andOctober 21, their sacrifice is recalled.

Martyrdom at Papannapet

Like Shivvampet, the police blood was also spilled in another incident.This martyrdom that shook the people’s conscience is that attack in

Papannapet. It was the night before the Vinayak Chaviti on September 13,1999. The clock showed it was 1.10 AM. Everyone was fast asleep. TheNaxal marauders chose to attack the police at that ungodly hour. Some 70armed Naxals attacked the police station. They felled down sentry Prasadand shot head constable Raghunandan, constables Ramchandar, Narsimluand Abid Hussain. SI Sattaiah had a providential escape. The peopleerected a memorial for the slain policemen. But, these lives were notsacrificed in vain. Today, the Maoist movement is all but dead in Medak.Relentless pursuit by the police personnel has ensured that the Maoistmovement has all but disappeared from Medak. The people of Medak livepeaceful and secure lives thanks to the sacrifices of police personnel.

The blood stains still remain and so does the pain of losing thebeloved ones. The people of Medak still recall the police

martyrs who fell to Maoist bullets in the district. The attacks onthe police stations in Papannapet and the police convoy in

Shivvampet still rankle the people of the district.

MEMORY OF MEDAK MARTYRS

(Palle Anjaneyulu, Sr Journalist)

From left: Habid Hussain, Prasad, Raghunandan, Narsimhuluand Ramchandar

From left: Balasubrahmanyam, DSP, Venkataswami, CI, Pentaiah, HC,Constables Laxman and Sujayat Ali

Every time you reach homeearly and your property isrecovered intact or a

murder case is detected,policeman runs the risk ofdeath and divorce muchearlier than all of us.

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It is recklessly sadistic to hurl abuses at the policemen.More hurtful is hanging them to the hook for their ‘turnout’and ‘gait’ everyday when there is deluge of fear all over. Weshould always ask ourselves when we take their salute,whether we deserve such selfless respect and unwaveringloyalty. Salute is not a mere everyday gesture that can easilybe ignored, even if one has no time. It is a live threadthrough which the trust shuttles at a lightening speed.Irrefutably, this trust is the core to the police conduct insociety.

Similarly it takes no time to take potshots at policemen,but if one goes to their homes and takes a peek into theirhearts, he would then understand the pain. Policemendeserve gallantry for facing every odd in their personal life.Congested accommodation in Erady type cubicles (thankgoodness, they are now demolished!), children not doingwell, wives turning neurotic, peer pressures, trying to beconformist in the subculture, unrealistic expectations fromthe families in the village, lack of social support, being oncall always, staying in the ring, invasive media, crises andthe endless list of woes afflict police life.

It takes no time to abuse policemen on the streets, in thetweets, and in the posts of Facebook. Let’s not forget, forevery hundred people who feel secure because of apoliceman, one child in the police lines is robbed of hisparental affection. Be cautious next time when yourecklessly brand police children as ‘spoiled lot’.

Every time you reach home early and your property isrecovered intact or a murder case is detected, policemanruns the risk of death and divorce much earlier than all ofus.

It is enigmatic to me, even today as to how men inuniform, jump into action despite being abused by everyone.May be it is a tribal instinct that is innate to the policemento react to a dangerous stimulus. May be it is the faith thattheir bosses would take care if something goes wrong.Perhaps, this is the reason why we have more policemenwilling to die on duty than any organized body of employeesof the state in the world.

The phrase ‘unsung heroes’ sounds very weird to me.Strangely, unlike many, policeman doesn’t crave for any

recognition. I took part in many funeral processions ofpolicemen (including those ill-fated 36 who met waterygrave in Balimela, Orissa) who died at the altar of duty. Inevery procession, sadly I found very thin civilian presence.Barring a few exceptions, no statues are erected for policemartyrs and no streets are named after them. Even if ithappens, it is only a police affair. Herman Goldstein, thefamous police thinker says no free society is comfortablewith the people who enforce law to safeguard its being.Police understands this axiom better than anyone. Notsurprisingly, the police families are unfazed by this utter lackof concern of society. They simply digest the grief andlocalize it to “the lines”. Shockingly, many ill-fated familiesdo not even know why their sole breadwinners neverreturned to home again.

Heroes don’t live for eulogies.(The author is Senior IPS Officer of AP Cadre, Presently

working as Secretary, APSWREIS)

ADSP going to a weddingfunction on a bicycle, living in

a house that is simple andunostentatious! That was Zia-ul-Haq, the Kunda DSP. Known forhonesty, simplicity and without thetrappings of the power that apolice exudes, Zia had endearedhimself to the people. Peopleremember him for his honesty andsimplicity.

Zia came from a verybackward area of thestate. His family wasequally backward. Fatherwas a factory labour andit was his toil thatenabled Zia to become apolice.

As a police officer, Ziasoon became extremelypopular with the people.He had endeared himselfto everyone in Devariaand in his stint at Kundatoo, which is part of UPstrongman Raja Bhaiya’sconstituency, he won thehearts of the people. Hissimple ways and honest working style made himpopular. It is exactly because of this that he hadfrequent run-ins with political biggies.

On March 2, 2013, the DSP came to know that therewas unrest in Belipur village. There was arson andattacks by the supporters of local sarpanch NanheYadav, who was slain by his rivals. Zia rushed his forcesand went to the place. However, goons, supposedlyclose to the minister, attacked him, badly mutilatedthe body and shot him in the head and chest with hisservice revolver.

The government came up with its templateresponses like “The government would come downheavily on the culprits and who so ever high and mightyfound involved in the incident won’t be spared.” But,the people of Kunda stood up for their beloved DSP.They took out marches and organized protests. Therewere hartals. This unnerved the Government. It soonhad to order an inquiry into the DSP’s murder.

Zia’s death had not gone in vain. It showed thatpeople stand by a honest police officer and own up hisbattle for justice. Through his supreme sacrifice, Ziashowed that Right always wins over might!

(The author is Md Ansari, Sr Journalist fromLucknow)

Zia-ul-Haq,Honest to the Hilt

Zia had endearedhimself to everyonein Devaria and in hisstint at Kunda too,which is part of UPstrongman Raja

Bhaiya’sconstituency, he wonthe hearts of thepeople. His simpleways and honestworking style made

him popular.


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On a cold night on the 1st ofMarch, 1989, two policeconstables Somaraj(PC 677) and

Rahman Khan (PC 510) were performingnight beat duty on Phullong Bridge inNizamabad Town. The PC’s stopped arickshaw and wanted to search a youngman’s bag. They asked him questionslike his name and the contents of thebag. The young man said: So you wantto see what is there in this bag” and ina giffy whipped out a 9MM Pistol andfired at them. While Police ConstableSomaraj died on the spot and PCRehman Khan wasgrievously injured.

As a young DeputySuperintendent of Police ofNizamabad, Sub Division Ireached the spotimmediately and shiftedthe profusely bleedingRehman Khan to the DistrictHeadquarters Hospital andPC Somaraj to the HospitalMortuary. MercifullyRehman Khan recoveredafter two months oftreatment, but Somajar’sfamily lost its solebreadwinner. After a few days DontaMarkendeya alias Shankar, DistrictCommittee Secretary, Nizamabad,issued a statement claiming that it washe who shot Somaraj and injuredRehman Khan. He mocked at the PoliceDepartment for not carryingsophisticated firearms. He said the copshad pestered him with questions andthat they ‘got what they deserved.’ Hewarned that all the officers who wereharassing the people during night duty

would meet with similar fate. A fewmonths ago while under practicaltraining in Vishakapatnam District I wastaught that while on beat duty the beatPC should always check bags, baggagesof suspicious persons during night beatduty as house breaking implements arequite heavy and housebreakingimplements can be easily hidden in theclothing. It was clear to me that thevictims Somaraj and Rehman Khan weresuspecting the stranger to be carryingsuch instruments and wanted him toshow what was inside the bag. Further

it was clear to me that Nizamabad townis as vulnerable for the cops on duty asthe other extremist-affected areas inthe district.

There was a spike in Left wingextremist violence in the late ‘80s’ inthe North Telangana district ofNizamabad. As the CPI-ML Peoples wardeclared Telangana to be a strugglezone, instances of attacks on policepersonnel showed a marked increase. Ina struggle zone, it was essential for the

Peoples War cadre to keep up themorale by regularly killing policepersons. This would demoralize theState forces and establish thesupremacy of the armed militantdalams in the countryside.

The fight against Left wingextremists has been long and hard andit is one tenacity of Telangana Police,their preparedness for the supremesacrifice, quality of leaderships on thefield, political will, establishment ofspecialized forces, superior training andfirepower, and most importantly,

rejection of the ideologyof violence and hatred,well-framed surrenderand rehabilitation policy,better transport systemsand introduction oftechnology by the policedepartment in thecommunication field thathas caused theturnaround, helping inestablishment of apeaceful Telangana Stateleading to the decline ofthe Maoist movement.

A few months earlieran armed dalam of CPI-ML Peoples warcaught PC MD. Qutabuddin fromPallikonda(V) under Bheemgal PS limits,tied him to an electrical pole in theheart of the village, shot him dead inbroad day light in the presence of thevillagers despite their repeatedrequests to spare him. The Qutubuddinhad gone to the village to meet arelative. The dalam labeled him as aspecial party Police Constable, Gunmanof the then Sub Inspector, SK. Junnoo

Sacrifices dot the battleagainst Left Wing Terrorism

V. NAVEENCHAND

Somaraju Qutubuddin

introduction of technology by the police department in thecommunication field that has caused the turnaround,helping in establishment of a peaceful Telangana State

leading to the decline of the Maoist movement

and brutally killed him. The onlymistake committed by the PC was tovisit his relatives in an extremist-affected area.

The Telangana districts PoliceDepartment suffered serious causalitiesduring the Left Wing terror movementfrom 1978 to 2007.

Several bravehearts gave their livesin the line of duty. We salute them forthe supreme sacrifices made by them.

For the CPI-ML Peoples War, laterrenamed as CPI Maoist party, the reasonfor killing the policeman was to ensuretheir supremacy. It was the Policemenwho challenged the Maoists in thehinterlands of Telangana. In this LowIntensity Conflict, the general publicwhich initially supported the extremistsdue to the ideological pull, had turnedagainst the mindless violence unleashedby the Maoists.

In due course, this change inattitude turned the tide in favour of thepolice department when informationabout dalam movement started flowingregularly to the police, thanks again tothe selfless work of the PoliceConstabulary. In Medak district, amilitant was brutally beaten by a Maoistdalam for not repaying debts. A Specialbranch Constable befriended themilitant and a successful operation wasconducted against the dalam that wastaking shelter in the house of thevillage sarpanch. There are several suchsuccessful operations that made the topleadership of Maoists to leaveTelangana, Once their strong-hood toseek shelter in Dandakaranya.

While the results in anti-extremistoperations came later, the loss of lifesuffered by Telangana Police forces wasconsiderable. The Left Wing extremistsused landmines to deadly effect killingscores of Police officers and men. Boldofficers were targeted and killed in fullpublic view to serve as a deterrent toother officers. Other humble cops onroutine duties were killed withoutcompunction by the Maoists.

Over a period of time the tactics ofnot reaching a so called scene of crimeby Police, using villagers at times ashuman shields, the concept of road-opening parties, checking of culvertsand bridges paid dividends and policecasualties showed a declining trend.

Operationally, the policy oftargeting senior Maoist leaderships has

hit the Left Wing Extremists the hardestgiving a respite to the Telangana Policefor planning new and more effectivepolices. By means of better interstateco-operation, more advancedtechnology, intelligence-basedoperations the so called dreaded ActionTeams could be neutralized.

The concept of Action Team wasdevised by the Maoist leadership as asure-shot reprisal mechanism against

high-ranking political leadership andsenior police officers. Their movementswere studied in detail, committedMaoists from various fields unknown toone another were trained for monthsbefore striking a target. It is importantto work on the weaknesses in thesystem to save the lives of theprotectees.

(The author is Senior IPS Officer,Inspector General of Police, Telangana)

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He makes his entry just when the society is in turmoilAnd works thus round the clock with his back - breaking toilHe jumps and runs and is always on tenterhooksAnd works he zealously to bring to book the crooks.Dawn breaks for him with discordant notes of disturbanceRoutine murders and robberies march on with nonchalance.No one comes to him with a happy and a smiling faceHis day drags on wearily recording many a criminal caseSips of hot tea gulps he down and rushes fastTo help the needy and desperate and to make them smile at lastCome rain or winter he strenously works on foreverHours of grinding duty threaten or restrain him neverSea of vehicles and teeming crowds continue to bustleRegulates he them with his hands and his trusty whistleMore brickbats than bouquets await him with a baleful stanceFor none acknowledges his service without so much as a grateful glanceWhen people go amok he is put in a really terrible plightLaw and order he must guard to set the situation rightWith the coming of V.I.P’s commanded he is to hustleAnd to control the unruly mob flex he must his muscleShould a terrorist or a gangster strike or make troubleSummoned he is so to the scene to dissolve it at the doubleSometimes the terrorist does succeed and make a triumphant gainMaking the expertise and valour of the policeman go in vainThe terrorist’s bullet stops the policeman’s selfless lifeDevastating thus his children as well as his widowed wifeThe bullet may have ripped his heart but certainly not his courageThe pride of his sacrifice will sure shine on his visageThe nation duly acknowledges the policeman’s matchless dedicationAnd thus bows before him on the day of commemoration

The NoblePoliceman

Dr. Smt. K. Aruna vyas


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Brave in the face of death, Unflinching in the cause of thecountry, the IPS warriors wrote their saga of courage and

sacrifice with blood surging from their battle wounds. The Hall ofFame is adorned by the heroic exploits of these intrepid warriors.Here is a tribute from senior police officer Mahesh Bhagwat to the

IPS officers who went down fighting on the call of duty.MAHESH BHAGAVAT

SUPREMESACRIFICE

O valiant hearts who to your glorycameThrough dust of conflict and throughbattle flame;Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtueproved,Your memory hallowed in the landyou loved.

It was Thomas Jefferson who saidthat the tree of liberty must bewatered by the blood of patriots.

And the police have never lagged

behind in making supreme sacrifices. Asniper waiting in dark, an ambush atthe hairpin bend, a landmine waiting toexplode or a grenade about to behurled at…. The police have daredthem all and braved it all. The martyrsetched stories of valour, courage andsacrifice with the blood surging fromtheir gaping wounds.

From 1989 to 2007, an estimated18914 policemen died on call of duty,averaging close to 1000 per year. Thisyear 576 policemen martyred through

of the nation. Every year, policepersonnel die fighting anti-socials,mafias, Naxals, terrorists andsmugglers. Like in all other uniformedforces, even in the police department,several officers have made supremesacrifices. The list of gallantry andbravery is long.

It begins with GS Arya, the 1950cadre IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh, LBSewa, a 1958 Assam-Meghalaya cadreofficer, and K Panchapagesan, a 1974batch officer. While Arya was IG of

IPS MARTYRS

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Mizoram, Sewa was DIG and Panchapagesan was SP. Theywere known for their derring-do. Together, they launchedseveral successful offensives against the Mizo rebels andtheir names spelt terror for the insurgents. On January13, 1975, a day before the Sankranthi, terrorists in policeuniform sneaked into the police conference room, wherethe three officers were holding a meeting. They shot thethree officers from close range and felled them.

During the heights of the Khalistani terror, the Punjabpolice displayed exemplary valour. Many a police officerwas felled by the terrorists. Avtar Singh Atwal, theJalandar IGP. He was killed on April 25, 1983 whilereturning after praying at the Golden temple. He wasunarmed when the terrorists attacked him.

1982 batch IPS KRS Gill and 1979 batch officer AS Brarwere killed by the Khalistani terrorists. These were highlymotivated officers known for their courage andfearlessness. They were posted as SSP and Additional SPof Patiala respectively. On the fateful day of December14, 1987, they were attacked while they were jogging.They were badly outnumbered and went down fighting.

Gobindram, who worked as an SP and successfullyfought the Khalistanis, made the supreme sacrifice whena terrorist’s bomb rocked his office. He was commandantof the 75th battalion of the Punjab Armed Police inJalandhar.

Patiala SSP Sheetaldas was killed in a shootout withhis ASI. The ASI was found to have links with the Khalistaniterrorists. When he tried to arrest the ASI, the latter firedat him. In the shootout, Das suffered bleeding injuriesand died, but not before killing the traitor.

Daulat Singh Negi, a dynamic officer known for hishugely successful operations against ULFA terrorists inAssam, is the next IPS to make the supreme sacrifice. Hewas SP of Dibrugarh. AT that time Dibrugarh was terroristinfested. But, Negi was made of a sterner stuff. He wasambushed while returning from a raid. He went downfighting.

IPS officer AK Arora was adjudged best IPS probationer

A1982 batch IPS officer, Hemanth Karkarewas an engineering graduate from

Vishveshvarayya Regional EngineeringCollege in Nagpur. He chucked attractivejobs at National Productivity Council andHindustan Lever for the rough and tumble ofan IPS officer. Even during his initial days asan IPS officer, he showed rare spark and didnot shirk away from arresting politicalleaders during 1993.

Karkare took over the investigation of themulti-crore shoe scandal and was also incharge of the narcotics division in Mumbai. He had alsoworked in Austria for seven years. He became the head ofATS in January 2008.

Karkare solved the serial bomb blasts inThane, Vashi and Panvel. He also handled theJuly 2006 Mumbai local train blasts case. Anart lover, he created over 150 woodensculptures in Chandrapur during his stintthere.

On the fateful day of November 26 whenterrorists attacked Mumbai, he was about tosit for dinner when he got the news. Aquintessential policeman that he was, heimmediately rushed to the spot. With hiscomdrades Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar,

he was in the thick of action moments later only to meet aheroic end. He shall forever remain an icon for Indianpolicemen and women.

26/11 HERO: HEMANTH KARKARE

NAME OF THE OFFICERS BATCH CADRE DATE OF DEATH

G.S. ARYA 1950 UP 13-01-1975

L.B. SEWA 1958 AM 13-01-1975

K. PANCHPAGESAN 1974 UT 13-01-1975

A.S. ATWAL 1964 PUNJAB 25-04-1983

V.K. MEHTA 1972 WEST BENGAL 18-03-1984

A.K. ARORA 1984 RAJASTHAN 07-07-1986

K.R.S. GILL 1982 PUNJAB 14-12-1987

A.S. BRAR 1979 PUNJAB 14-12-1987

SITAL DASS 1976 PUNJAB 19-08-1988

VANDANA MALIK 1987 MT 08-04-1989

DAULAT SINGH NEGI 1976 AM 19-07-1990

R.P. VERMA 1974 BIHAR 03-01-1991

AJIT SINGH EC-1968 PUNJAB 08-05-1991

GOBIND RAM 1975 PUNJAB 10-01-1991

K.S. VYAS 1974 AP 27-01-1993

G.P. NAIDU 1987 AP 14-11-1993

VED PRAKASH 1989 NAGALAND 26-08-1994

RAMAN PRAKASH 1990 GUJARAT 02-05-1995

R.N. HOPINGSON 1992 MT 02-06-1995

RAVI KANT SINGH 1987 AM 16-05-1996

C. UMESH CHANDRA 1991 AP 04-09-1999

AJAY KUMAR SING 1995 BIHAR 05-10-2000

Md Amin Bhat J & K 02-02-2004

K.C. SURENDRA BABU 1997 BIHAR 05-01-2005

T. THANGTHUAM 1979 MT 31-12-2005

ASHOK M KAMTE 1989 MAH 26-11-2008

HEMANT KARKARE 1982 MAH 26-11-2008

Binod Kumar Coubey 1998 MP 12-07-2009

NARENDRA KUMAR 2009 MP 08-03-2012

Amarjit Balihar 2003 Zarkhand 02-07-2013

MARTYRS IPS OFFICERS

during this training. During his stint in Jodhpur, he dieddue to a bomb explosion. He suffered grievous injuries onJune 28, 1986 and was rushed to a hospital, where he wasunder treatment for almost a month. He died on July 7,1986.

Ravikanth Singh was a bold officer who hassuccessfully foiled many anti-national activities of theinsurgents in Assam and had proved to be a thorn in theirflesh. Singh was posted as S.P., Tinsukia. He was attackedby the insurgents while on the way to his office on May16, 1996. He died fighting bravely.

Vedprakash, who was SP, Mokokchung of Nagaland wasthe prime target of NSCN ultras. He was attacked onAugust 26, 1994 while returning from his office. His twobodyguards and the driver also died in the mishap.

RN Hopingson was a dynamic officer known for hiscourageous operations against the extremists in thetrouble-torn state of Manipur. He was killed in a dastardlyfashion by the extremists in a surprise ambush o June 2,1995.

Raman Prakash was a very courageous officer whonever failed to take initiative in any task placed beforehim. He was posted as Addl.S.P., Panchmahal District,Godhra, when we was killed in an accidental bullet firingwhile conducting an operation meant to trap a man-eaterpanther that had been terrorizing the villagers. He wasmartyred on May 2, 1995.

DCP VK Mehta was a stickler for discipline. While beingposted as DCP, Port Division, he responded to a clashbetween two communities at garden reach PS area of hisdivision where a few incidents of bomb throwing andarson had been reported. To restore order, he himself wasat the forefront in chasing the mob of miscreants. In thecase, he and his security aid got separated from theothers and later they were found dead on March 18, 1984.

Lohardaga SP Ajay Kumar Singh, a 1995 batch officerand Superintendent of Police Lohardaga district ofundivided Bihar, laid down his life at the altar of duty inthe ambush laid by Maoist Communist Centre ultras nearPeshrar village in Lohardaga district on October 4, 2000.He was on a visit to Peshrar village where incident offiring by Naxalite was reported earlier. Acting on a tip-off, when he along with four Jawans of Bihar Militarypolice were approaching the scene in the Gypsy vehicle,a mine was blasted followed by ambush firing by theoutlawed, eventually leading to martyrdom of Ajay. Heis the first IPS officer who was slain in uniform whilebravely confronting the ultras in Bihar state. He wasknown as a brave, courageous, upright and dutiful policeofficer. A product of Netrahat School and IIT Kharagpur,Ajay was a hardcore professional, extraordinarily devotedto his work and duty. At the same time he was a familyman, very supporting and dutiful husband who gotmarried to Anupam Saxena (IPS batch mate). His act ofbravery is recognized by country by awarding him withPresident’s Police Medal for Gallantry posthumously

On 03-01-1991, as Superintendent of Police, Dhanbad,Randhir Prasad Verma got information about a bankdacoity being committed in the Bank of India branch of


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His name sent shivers down the spines of Naxalites forit was K S Vyas, who founded the elite Greyhounds,

foreseeing the internal security threat the extremists couldpose to the society. Though he was on the top of themilitants’ hit list, Vyas never confined himself to theprotected corridors. A fearless officer he was, Vyas usedto go for jogging along with his wife Aruna Vyas in LBStadium every evening.

The Naxalites, who considered him their bitter enemy,studied his routine and planned their assault. The ill-fatedday was January 27, 1993. Dressed in a track suit, Vyas wasjogging along with his wife while the security personnelwere waiting at their designated place.

It was around 6.30 pm when about six persons cameclose to Vyas, surrounded him and opened fire from veryclose range. The extremists hurled a bomb while fleeingand used the commotion as a cover for safe escape.

Vyas was rushed to Osmania General Hospital where hewas declared dead. Credited with setting up of the eliteGreyhounds and Special Investigation Branch (SIB) thatprovided intelligence support for the operations wing, Vyasbecame a synonym for the ‘Andhra Model’ of flushing outthe Naxalites. Today, Andhra Model is so popular not onlyin India but also across the world that police personnelfrom neighbouring states and countries undergo training incombating terrorism. Police academies have beenorganizing Vyas Memorial Lecture as a mark of respect tothe foresighted and courageous officer.

THE ROLE MODELK.S. VYAS

HIS NAME SHIVERS MAO’S...

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Dhanbad city. He immediately rushed tothe spot and launched an operationagainst the dacoits. In the firing thatensued, he was fatally wounded anddied on the spot. As a Police officer heeliminated many criminal gangs. He wasposthumously awarded the gallantryaward Ashok Chakra. The Governmentof India also issued a Commemorativepostage stamp in his honor in 2004.

Vandana Malik: She is the first andthe only woman IPS to attainmartyrdom. A much admired officereven during his probation days, she wasASP (under training) at Lamshang PoliceStation, Manipur. IPS officer MissVandana Malik was killed along with oneconstable Mangi in an ambush by themembers of People Liberation Army(PLA) at Konthoujam Lamkhai on April8,1989. On the fateful day, officer-incharge (OC) of Lamsang Police StationMiss Vandana Malik and her team wereheading to an examination centre ofthe High School Leaving Certificate(HSLC) on security duty. Around 3 pm,

the suspected militants launched theambush killing Miss Vandana Malik onthe spot and injured four policeconstables critically. One sten-gun, one.38 revolver, two rifles and someammunitions were taken away by thesuspected militants after the incident.

Ajit Singh: He was extremely braveand dedicated officer renowned for hisbold action against the terrorists. OnMay 8, 1991, he received informationabout an encounter in a village in TarnTaran District. In the ensuing crossfirebetween the terrorists and the policehe was badly injured but continuedfighting. He later succumbed to hisinjuries in the hospital. He was DIG,Border Range, Amritsar at the time ofhis martyrdom.

Mohammed Amin Bhat: On February2, 2004, terrirorists, who claimed tobelong to Save Kashmir Movement,fired upon Bhat, who was DIG, Crimeand Railways at Barzulla. He wascoming out of a mosque after Eidprayers. He was critically wounded and

breathed his last at the hospital. Bhatwas a conscientious officer and wasinstrumental in reviving the intelligenceunit during early 1990s. He was the firstamong the senior police officers to bekilled in J and K. He was anexperienced officer who had served theUN peace-keeping mission in Kosovo.

Brave IPS officers from Maharashtra– Hemant Karkare and Ashok Kamte.Ashok Kamte was An accomplishedathlete, he represented India at thejunior power-lifting championship inPeru in 1978. He was posthumouslyhonoured with the Ashok Chakra diedfighting the terrorists who attackedMumbai on November 26, 2008. Theseofficers chased and attacked terroristsbefore falling to the enemy bullets.

T.Thangthuam: This 1979 batch IPSofficer was IGP Manipur. His convoy wasambushed at Oinam Bazar in Senapatidistrict. Critically injured Thangthuamwas admitted to a hospital, where hedied on December 31, 2005.

KC Surendrababu was the SP of

“Do not worry about me! Seethat our arms are safe. Fight

them to the last man standing…. Donot let the enemy escape!”

How brave and how courageousmust be the man who ordered hismen even as both his legs lay severedin a landmine blast and was bleedingprofusely? That was Paradesi Naidu,the first IPS officer in Andhra Pradeshto make the supreme sacrifice whilefighting anti-national forces.

It was November 14, 1993. Naidu,then Mahaboobnagar SP, was comingback from Somasila after inspectingthe RTC bus and the forestguesthouse that the Maoists hadblasted. Somasila is a river coastvillage in the thick Nallamala forest.As his convoy was returning, theMaoists detonated a landminecritically wounding Naidu, andseveral others. Despite grievousinjuries and severe blood loss, Naidumotivated his men to fight back. Hefought till the end and later breathedhis last. Besides Naidu, SI’s A

Shivaprasad, T Kishore Kumar, headconstable MV Ranga Reddy, policeconstables Sheikh Haider, YVS Prasad,MD Jahab Iqbal, Jayaramulu and SSubhash were martyred in the fight.

Bus driver Saleh Miyan too died in thedastardly attack.

Despite knowing the treacherousterrain and the foxy Maoiststrategies, Paradesi Naidu decided togo to the scene of offence himself.The village was strategically locatedand offered locational advantage tothe Maoists.

He hired a private bus and wentto the village. It was his motivationand guidance that made the policefight back the Naxals for over twohours.

Paradesi Naidu was the secondson of justice G Ramanujulu Naidu. Agold medalist in MA (economics) anda cricketer of repute, Naidu nevershirked from responsibilities andalways led from the front. Even whilestaring at a certain death heconducted himself like a true blueman in Khaki.

His smiling face and friendlydemeanor endeared everyone. Hismemories continue to linger longafter he is physically gone.

PARADESINAIDU: A BRAVE COP


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For the people, he was like God. Forfellow policemen, he was a source of

inspiration, a picture-perfect of honestyand integrity. For his subordinates, hewas never a boss but a leader mostadored. For Naxals and anti-socials, hewas terror incarnate. And all of this in abrief span of mere 33 years.

That was Chadalawada UmeshChandra for you. For his countlessadmirers and subordinates, he wassimply ‘Umesh Sir.’

As one crosses, Sanjiva Reddy NagarCrossroads, one finds Umesh Chandra inbronze standing upright, as if putting hisbest foot forward to go on call of duty.That was the very spot where thisextraordinary cop fell to the Naxal bullets.

He was a policeman who raised the standards of police administrationand was an exemplary officer known for his high degree of honesty, integrityand professionalism. Umesh Chandra was an exemplary cop who lived anddied for the society. He was the embodiment of courage and quintessenceof sincerity. A great leader, able manager, a pristine humanitarian and aperson who believed work was worship, that is Umesh Chandra for you. InKadapa, he tamed the wily factionists and in Karimnagar, he crushed thetreacherous Naxals. Wherever he went, the people and police alike adoredhim.

During his sting in Warangal, he founded the Police Jagrruthi Brundam totake on the Maoists misinformation through cultural events and folk artforms. Providing amenities to the policemen’s families was very close to hisheart and he always strove to ensure that his men were happy. The loyaltyhe commanded from his men was exemplary. His Kadapa days would also beremembered for the flood relief works that his men undertook under his ableguidance.

Umesh Chandra struck terror in the hearts of the anti-national forces.Naxals found the going tough when Umesh Chandra was at the helm. Hebelieved in taking the Naxals head on and used to the in the forefront of thecampaigns.

It was September 5, 1999. That morning was like any other mornings andas ever, sprightly Umesh Chandra left for his office at about 10 AM. He wasin his Maruti Van and his driver Satyanarayana and gunman RamachandraReddy accompanied him. Even as the van stopped at the red signal atSanjeeva Reddy Nagar Crossroads, red terror did a deathly dance in broadday light. Brave Umesh, who was injured in the shootout, tried to come outof the vehicle and fight the killer Naxals. But it was already too late. Hisgunman Ramachandra Reddy and driver Satyanarayana followed their masterin his final journey.

Born in 1966 in Pedapudi village of Guntur district, Umesh Chandra didhis post-graduation in Osmania University . He joined the IPS in 1990. Hisencounters with the Naxals in Warangal and Karimnagar and his stint atKadapa, showed his mettle. He was also instrumental in setting up of thepolice computer centre as the Assistant Inspector General. Married in 1994,he was blessed with a son.

UMESH CHANDRA:

LIVES FOR EVERMunger in Bihar. He supervised anti-Naxal operations under Jamui policestation and Kajra Railway station onJanuary 4, 2005. While returning, theNaxals set off a landmine near Gangtakilling Surendrababu, his bodyguard,driver and four other policemen on thespot.

Binodkumar Chowbey is the first SPrank officer from Chhattisgarh whobecame a martyr in the fight againstthe Naxals. He played a key role insmashing the urban network of theMaoists in Raipur and Bhilai.

He was SP of Rajanandgaon andworked tirelessly to fight the Maoists.On July 12, 2009, the Naxals ambushedhis team near Madanwada and explodedlandmines. Later, they opened fire. Thepolice, under Chowbey’s leadershipreturned the fire. But, 26 policemen,including Chowbey died fighting. Hewas awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously.

Young Narendra Kumar had launcheda determined campaign against illegalmining in Morena region of MadhyaPradesh. As an ASP of the district, heled several operations against illegalminers. On March 8, 2012, he was run-over by a tractor while personallyconducting an operation againstcriminals involved in illegal mining ofsand stone.

Pakur district Superintendent ofpolice Amarjit Balihar and his four mendied in a Maoist attack on July 2, 2013in Damini forest of Zarkhand’s DumkaDistrict. Their convoy was attackedwhile returning from a security reviewmeeting in Dumka, a divisionalheadquarter. A gun battle ensuedbetween the police force and Naxalsfollowing the ambush, in which Baliharwent down fighting.

Gallantry, courage, motivation,derring-do, fighting spirit …. The policeforces of India have plenty of them.They have shown their mettle in morethan one battle. They looked straightinto death and laughed fearlessly. Theydied for our new dawn. Our heartfelttributes to these great leaders, who ledby example and put them in the line offire first before their subordinates. It’stime to honour the fallen. Salutes tothe brave police officers!

(The author is Inspector General ofPolice, Intelligence Security)

Normally, evenings in a policestation are relatively morerelaxed. The cops let down their

hair and stretch a bit. But, that eveningwas different. It was 13 years ago, butseems just yesterday for me!

The relative calm in Tirumalagiripolice station was shattered when Naxalsdescended on it all guns blazing. A hail ofbullets, intermittent grenade blasts anda barrage of invectives pierced what wasto be a quiet evening. Located onWarangal-Nalgonda border, the stationwas on Naxal radar for quite sometime.

The Naxals had their plan ready.Darkness slowly descended as sun, onguard all through the day, was readyingup to retire beyond the hills on thewestern horizon. The Naxals moved insurreptitiously. Their first target was theelectric transformer. Moments later, thevillage was wrapped in pitch darkness.

Before the cops on duty at the policestation could realize, death befell onthem. Bullets were whizzing past. Thecops inside were terrified and confused.

It was at this stage that our superiorsdecided to go to the rescue of thebeleaguered friends caught in a Naxalassault. The brave officer led from thefront. In about 20 minutes thereinforcements reached the ground zero.I was part of the team. We crept ahead.We were a mere 100 metres from the

police station under assault.It was pitch darkness disrupted by

intermittent sparks from the firing fromboth sides. We realized the police stationwas under siege from all directions. SomeNaxals were sniping from atop of a nearbyhostel building.

As I crept ahead, I suddenly foundsomething sticky, gummy on the ground.I closely held a torch towards thatdirection. I was careful enough to ensurethat the beam of light did not give awaymy position to the enemy. In the light, Isaw it was blood. Close by, someone laydead! I did not know whether it was a copor a Naxal.

Could there be many more lying dead?That very thought sent a chill through myspine. I realized I was getting closer todeath. I suddenly charged aheadscreaming and shrieking, firing bullets atthe invisible enemy. We battled for onehour. But, it seemed eternity. The gunsfeel silent an hour later. The enemy mayhave retreated, I felt. I was able to hearfrantic shrieks from the roof of the policestation. We called out the names of thepolice personnel inside the station.

Initially, the cops inside wereapprehensive. But, they soon realized wewere friends. The police rushed into thestation from all directions. Bullet poachestied to the waist, guns in hand andhelmets on head, their faces were red

with rage. Anger was all-pervading. Theywanted revenge and retribution on theMaoist marauders.

The scene inside the police stationwas like a battle field. Sharpned, piecesof glass and other things were strewn allaround. An unexploded grenade gaped atthe terrified police personnel.

In a corner, a constable was founddead. He was shot while taking aim. Hisdeath, I presumed, was sudden and swift.Another constable lay dead on the stair.We went around the station taking stockof the situation and estimating the losses.From the roof guard’s position, we sawthe body of a Naxal lying on theforeground of the police station. We wentclose to the body and beamed our torchlights at it!

It was a woman Naxal. A gun was lyingby the side of the lifeless Naxal. Herhands clutched a fuse wire. The policebullet pierced through her head while shewas trying to fix a mine.

Had the mine been blasted? Ishuddered at the very thought. At least15 cops would have died. Would she haverealized her socialist dream if the copswere killed?

There was no room for emotions, notime for sentiments. We began sanitizingthe area, organizing searches, taking upfrisking, cordoning of areas and lookingfor the Naxals. For us, the police engagedin fighting the anti-national forces, life isa walk through a veritable mine field,with a hail of bullets welcoming us. Wemarch on regardless!

13 years after Tirumalgiri attack, Istill hear the frantic shrieks, feel bulletsraining all around and the deafeningsound of explosions just a few paces awayas if in a nightmare.

(The author is President, TelanganaState Police Association)

26

Close encounter with death!

GOPI REDDYYEDULA

(L-R) G. Sattaiah, Moinuddin, Jilani, G. Venkateswarlu, Somanarsaiah, Namod Reddy, Sultan Moinuddin,Shankarnaik, G. Gangaram, P. Prasad, Lakshmaiah, Lakshminarayana, Chand Pasha, Venkataratnam, G.Krishna Rao, M.A. Khaleem, S. Sekhar Reddy, Shankarji, Chennakesavulu, K. Lakshmaiah, Srinivasulu.


27

He needs to be present everywherein time of emergency, be it riot,mishap, burglary, murder, theft,

traffic congestion, public meeting, andeven a natural calamity. It is his duty toguard VIPs, offshore official guests andcelebrities. He has to track down yourmissing child and free an abductedbusinessman. He has to do whatever youwant him to.

He is the policeman who is requiredto work 24/7 in times of need. Yet, he isa butt of joke for the members of the so-called civilized society. It is easy forpeople to criticize a policeman withoutany iota of liability. The media and themovies work overtime to lampoon thepolice. Individuals and even Institutionsmanned by intellectuals compete witheach other in casting aspersionson thepolice. How many of us are aware of thewhole gamut of activities andresponsibilities the police are required todischarge several times without anynotice and without forty winks?

How many of us are aware that incomparison with other agenciesembodying the sovereignty of the State,the police discharge their duties withoutadequate resources and rest? How manyof us are aware that failure of any systemin our life (like family relations, landrelations, even examinations, to name afew) are placing enormous loadon theshoulders of the policemen?

How many of us are aware that thecomplexity of modern life hasunfathomably increased the quantumand quality of work on the policeDepartment; and the increase inresources and manpower is grosslydisproportionate?

How many of us are aware it is notjust traffic and crime and VIP securityalone; but police are engaged in internalsecurity and deployed in ‘Forward Areas’in the border?

Definitely answers to these queriesare self-explanatory. Then how thepolice are able to deliver goods with

success inspite of these constraints andlimitations, sometimes at the cost oftheir lives?

Shri B.N. Mullick, the first Director ofIntelligence Bureau, in his A PHILOSOPHYFOR THE POLICE, provides answers. Byculture and attitudinal psyche, thepolicemen are trained to accept anyresponsibility without projecting theirdifficulties or lack of resources. It isinherent in their DNA. This is acomplement and, at the same time, acurse to the police. The observance ofPolice Martyrs Day itself is a solidexample of this innate culture of IndianPolice.

Every year,October 21 is celebratedin commemoration of the policepersonnel who were killed at ChineseBorder. It is since re-christened as PoliceMartyrs Day. But the question fleetingthrough the minds of common man nowmust be: why policemen died at theborder, why not the army men?

A cue to this is provided byMrKuldipNayar, a renowned journalist inhis autobiography titled BEYOND THELINES (pages 101 to 103).

According to MrNayar a police officialby name MrLakshman Singh was the firstperson in 1954 to inform New Delhi aboutthe road that China was building in theIndian territory of Aksai Chin. He tookthe cover of a trader and mingled withthe laborers and gathered thisinformation. The Chinese captured anIndian patrol and tied its members to thetails of horses and dragged them alongthe road. New Delhi lodged a protestwhich was rejected with contempt.

But the mindset of New Delhi was notto irritate but to improve relations withChina, particularly on the eve of visit ofChou-En-Lai to India. In the meanwhile,New Delhi, ordered establishment of 64police check posts to register India'spresence on the border, notwithstandingprotests by the then Home Secretary Jhathat "these isolated posts with no supportfrom the rear would fall like ninepins ifthere was a push from the Chinese side.We have unnecessarily exposed thepolicemen to death".

He went on to say: "Frankly this is thejob of army, but as it has refused to manthe posts until full logistical support isprovided, New Delhi has pushed thepolice". Dear readers, do you need amore significant example than this toreflect for a while before censuring thepolice, at least on this day of PoliceMartyrs? Dear readers, is it unreasonableon the part of a policeman to expectfrom you what is due to him -- respectand resources-- while demanding ofhim what is due to you? Kindly pauseand ponder.

(The author is Dy Inspector Generalof Police)

Give police what they deserve How many of us are aware it is not just traffic and crime andVIP security alone; but police are engaged in internal security

and deployed in ‘Forward Areas’ in the border?

E DAMODAR IPS

Maoist violence which has becomea complex challenge to nationalsecurity is putting both central

and state governments under confusion.The complexity of the problem can beunderstood from the statements ofcontrolling Maoist extremism has becomea task beyond capacities.

But there is one force in entire Indiawhich doesn’t loses its nerves for Maoistextremism problem. The reason beingthat Police had a history of restrictingextremist activities and getting rid of

them from the state. Such a victory is nota routine one. Maoist extremists haveabsconded from Telangana and AP,because of the prowess of Police andhave established shelter in other states.

As the central government recognisedthis rare feat, it has indicated to otherstates, which intend to follow the uniqueidea of Greyhounds model, to extendfinancial support to the policedepartment.

Such a proposal made by Centralgovernment is a model example for the

bravado and denotes fighting spirit ofGreyhounds.

However this success was notachieved overnight. In the process oferadicating Maoists from the state 100sof state’s police officers have sacrifice invarious means. Since 1960s, the Maoistswho are called as ‘Naxalites’ havemanifested their supremacy in thevillages. For the imperfect and flawedpolicies of succeeding governments theextremists strengthened themselves andexpanded. The local police have notobtained training in Guerilla warfarewhich the extremists followed accordingto their principles. The Maoist affiliatedorganisations do not leave any stoneunturned and use all the platforms

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One of the grave threats to the internal security of thecountry, which include Maoist violence, has left theUnion and state governments baffled. Union HomeMinister Sushil Kumar Shinde have time and againadmitted that Left wing Extremism is causing a hugeproblem that the country has been trying in vain totackle since a long time.

K RAJA SHIKHAMANI

He is a true hero, someone who believed inwhat he was fighting for. For him, it wascountry first, everything else next. In life and

in death, Greyhounds inspector Karanam VaraprasdaRao displayed exemplary courage.

His team had broken the back of Maoists in theall-important Kanchala forest on the strategicKhammam-Chhattisgarh border in a shootoutthat lasted for well over three hours on April18, 2013. Kanchala is close to Chintalnar,where the Maoists had killed 70 policemenin 2010.

Among the dead Naxals was Marri Ravialias Sudhakar, secretary of Karimnagar-Khammam-Warangal (KKW) division, whichcontrolled the key K-N area committee.The other Naxals were all members of thecommittee. The police recovered four self-loading rifles, one carbine, two 303weapons, two Insas rifles, a country-made

weapon, one pistol, a single bore barrel gun, threemobile phones, 10 memory cards and seven simcards.The police, who had credible information thatover 100 Naxals were camping in Tuvvarti village;

launched a massive operation in the area.It was a hugely successful operation and Karanam

Prasad played a stellar role in it. As theGreyhounds were being evacuated in ahelicopter, some Naxals, who were hidingbegan firing at it. The chopper made goodits escape, but Karanam Varaprasadsuffered grievous bullet injuries. Hebreathed his last in the forest region.

He lived a hero’s life and died a hero’sdeath. He is the only police officer to bemartyred in AP this year.

The Ashok Chakra was awardedposthumously for his valor, courageousand brave action!

- V Gangadhar, Sr Journalist

An elite force that flushedout ultras Greyhounds

KARANAM PRASAD: A HERO IN LIFE AND DEATH


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including media, tomanifest the anti-naxalactivities as atrocious andbrutal.

As the local police failedto confront and handleextremist problem, publichas lost confidence onpolice department. In suchcircumstances, IPS officerMr.K.S.Vyas contemplatedand proposed establishmentof a special force toovercome this convolutedproblem. Taking a cue fromthis thought the state’spolice wing took necessaryactions to float Greyhoundsdivision in 1989. But, evenbefore it took off some whothought in favour ofextremists stumbled theGreyhounds proposal.Consequently Greyhoundswing was named SpecialSecurity Force (SSF). Thisdivision was deployed forvarious purposes.

However pursuant to thefailure of talks withgovernment, extremists inan enraged moodinsensitively resorted to alltypes of violence. At thatjuncture the higher officialscomprehended the intensityof the problem andrechristened SSF asGreyhounds. When ShriNedurumalli Janardhan Reddy was the chief minister thegovernment announced that “constant battle on extremists asthe single-point agenda of Greyhounds”. In the process thefounder of Greyhounds Mr.K.S.Vyas was killed by Maoists onJanuary 27th, 1993, when he was in a evening jog with his wifeAruna Vyas in Lalbahadur Stadium, Hyderabad. Mr.Vyas was thefirst IPS officer to be killed in extremist violence. But with thekind of inspiration Mr.Vyas imparted, the Greyhoundsdepartment not only continued its relentless battle againstMaoist extremists, but also achieved a great success. But suchvictories did not happen because of civil policemen.

The credit for enormous success of Greyhounds should begiven to inexorable hard work and determination of intelligencedepartment. We need to mention here the words of a seniorpolice officer “Even though we equip ourselves with the mostadvanced weapons, and have number of commandos such forcemay not serve the desired purpose unless there is someone toguide when and at whom to use them.” Intelligence units haveworked day and night for two decades keeping a vigil on everymoment of extremists and gathered comprehensive informationabout them. Also such units have identified the points where

extremists take shelters. If ourpolice are able to track themovements of extremiststoday within seconds theentire credit goes to theexcellent network of policepersonnel in intelligencedepartment and itssophisticated technology.“However the police havenever crossed their limits andchecks” says a senior officer.

Greyhounds’ wing will notrecruit its personnelindependently. It identifiescompetent officers in SpecialPolice and from local police,whose capabilities would bechecked and enlists them asGreyhound members ondeputation. Major percentageof Greyhound members wouldbe from special police which isstate’s paramilitary force.Youngsters below 25 yearswould be selected and trainedin commando style that isrequired to combat Maoists inintricate forest areas. TheGreyhounds training would beproficient and strenuous. Forthe same reason apart fromspecial police, a paramilitaryforce, other states also desireto send their forces for trainingin Greyhounds academy. Fromthe fact that some foreigncountries also send their forcesfor training with Greyhounds,

we can understand the expertise and competence of it.After analyzing the information they receive from

intelligence wing, the Greyhound Commandos in coordinationwith district police members would prepare themselves toperform the duties they are bound to do. In some specialsituations they do joint operations with local police teams also.Greyhounds, a synonym for bravery and heroic achievements,have committed innumerable sacrifices. Despite arduoustraining, the commandos still suffer from ailments like viralfevers, arthritis etc. Hitherto 59 commandoes died in duty. Ofthem 36 died in a single mishap. This tragic incident took placein Balimela, Odisha state.

The failure of local police in maintaining the secrecy on themovements of Greyhounds resulted in this misfortune.Concealing the pain in their hearts, Greyhound commandoes aremoving ahead in execution of their duties. While trying to putbehind the bitter experience, they are performing theirresponsibilities with the same determination. Respecting theircontribution the government is implementing a range of welfareschemes to greyhounds.

(The author is Assistant Director, Police Academy-APPA)

BALIMELA MARTYRS

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Nov 21 evening – 10 terrorists leaveKarachi, travel for 38 hoursundetected by Indian Navy.Nov 23 – Terrorists hijack fishingtrawler Kuber, kill four fisherfolk,ask the captain to sail towardsMumbai.Nov 26 evening – arrive at Mumbaicoast, kill captainNov 26, 8.10 pm – the boat docs atMachchimar Nagar, Colaba BadhwarPark

BEGENNING OF THE ATTACKWed 9.15pm – Five terrorists bargeinto Leopold Café, a popular jointand fire indiscrimately.Wed 9.29 pm – Two terrorists hurl agrenade at a police station nearBootleggers Pub. Enter into NarimanHouse, which housed Hasidic Jewishgroup Chabad Lubavitch. Killinmates, take a rabbi and his familyhostage.Wed 9.24pm – Gunmen run amuck at

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal. Killdozens of innocent passengers.Constables put up a fight with theterrorists.Wed 9.30pm – Terrorists enter intoTaj Palace hotel, throw grenades,fire indiscriminately. Hold up some100 hostages. Massive fire breaks outin the hotel. Hemant Karkare, AshokKamte and Vijay Salaskar, three topcops of Mumbai fall fighting theterrorists.Wed 9.35pm – Terrorists take OberoiTrident, another swank hotel. Wed 9.55 pm – terrorists blow up ataxi in a suburb in north Mumbai.Wed 10.15pm – Terrorists hijack acar and open fire on and inside thehospital, killing five cops.Wed 10.30 pm – Terrorists fire atpolicemen near Metro Cinema inColaba, hijack a police vehicle.Wed 10.45pm – another taxi blowsup at Wadi Bandar. Three killed and15 injured.

Wed 10.50 pm – Police confront twoterrorists at Girgaum near the BombayMunicipal Corporation, both terroristsfelled by cops, who discover two rib-type boats filled with explosives. Itwas here that ASI Tukaram Omblecaught Ajmal Kasab, the only terroristto be caught alive. Omble attainsmartyrdom in the fight.Wed 10.54 pm – firing at MemosisbuildingWed 10.59 pm – Firing at CamaBuilding, Terrorist Ibrahim Khan killstop cops Hemant Karkare, VijaySalaskar and Ashok Kamte.Wed 11.19 pm - firing at GT hospital.Thu 00.07 am – fire at head officegate no 6Thu 00.29 am – firing reported fromnear State Bank of India and VidhanBhavan.

THREE BATTLE ZONES72-hour ordeal begins at threeplaces – Taj Palace, Oberoi Tridentand Nariman HouseTAJ PALACE (50 deaths, 3 terroristskilled)Wed 10.03 pm – Terrorist siegebeginsThu 3.00 am - fire breaks out inhotel, evacuation begins, mostpeople rescued by 4.30 am.Thu 9.15 am – Elite security forcesarrive and the campaign to re-takethe hotel begins.Thu 10.30 am – NSG commandosbegin room to room searches.Thu 11.00 am – still some 50passengers remain inside. They areheld hostages.Thu 7.00 pm – NSG clears thebuilding from groud to fourth floor.Fri 00.15 am – all but one terrorist

Mumbai attack as it hap pened10 deadly terrorists set out on Mission Mumbai from Karachi port, hijack a fishingboat and travel by sea from Jakhau off Gujarat to escape being noticed. As theyapproach Mumbai coast, they switch into an inflatable dinghy to get into Mumbai.They split into groups and get down to murder, mayhem and devastation with

clinical precision. Their journey from Karachi to Mumbai is as follows:


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They are martyrs who cared littlefor their lives. They are heroes

who went beyond the call of duty.They were men with Capital M. Theyrank low in the hierarchy. But standtall for the cause of motherland. Thebrave policemen of Mumbai whobattled Pak terrorists in 26/11 Mumbaiattacks are the real heroes in everysense of the term.

MUKHESH JADHAV: A homeguardwho lived on less than Rs 3000 a month.Even that pittance would arrive late,sometimes by a month. His home was aone-room tenement. But, when thecrunch time came, this youth was notfound wanting. He tried to ferry acrossterrified passengers at the ChhatrapatiShivaji Terminal to safety. In theprocess, he came face to face with aarmed-to-the-hilt terrorist. Theterrorist shot him in the chest. Bleedingprofusely, Jadhav ran to the policeoutpost to alert them about the terrorattack. He died two hours later.

ARUN RAGHUNATH CHITTE: He wasVijay Salaskar’s driver. He was bySalaskar’s side during each one of his 80shootouts. He never wavered from dutyand was always punctural. This Dharaviresident may be poor in money but richin courage and sense of duty. He wasshot dead while chasing a terrorist nearRang Mandir.

TUKARAM OMBLE: In a daredeviland exemplary act of bravery, AssistantSub Inspector Tukaram Ombleconfronted Amir Ajmal Kasab, one ofthe 10 terrorists who attacked MumbaiOmble, along with police personnelfrom the D B Marg Police station,apprehended two terrorists at thepolice barricade at Girgaon Chowpatty.

Armed with only a baton, Omblepounced on Kasab, taking a hail ofbullets in his stomach from theterrorist. In spite of being grievouslyinjured, he did not let him escape andlost his life subsequently. It was becauseof his bravery that the police couldcapture the lone terrorist alive.

VIJAY KHANDEKAR: This youth wasa wireless operator. He risked his lifeand entered Cama Hopsital to track thePak terrorists. The terrorists found himout and rained a hail of bullets on him.He died on the spot.

HEMANTH KARKARE: The head ofMumbai's anti terrorism squad, Karkareis regarded as a legend in the Mumbaipolice force, forging a reputation asbeing extremely honest and forthright.Formerly a member of India's Researchand Analysis Wing, Karkare was the leadinvestigator in a number of high levelcases, including the 2008 Malegaonblasts. On the fateful night ofNovember 26, Karkare teamed up withSPI Vijay Salaskar and AC Ashok Kamteto fight the terrorists. They went downfighting.

VIJAY SALASKAR: He was arenowned encounter specialist who wasthe head of the Anti-Extortion Cell inMumbai. He was reportedly responsiblefor eliminating close to 80 criminals.

ASHOK KAMTE: he was a highlydecorated police service officer and anaccomplished athlete, who hadrepresented India in the junior powerlifting championships in Peru in 1978.Kamte was renowned for being anexcellent negotiator in crisis situations.He was hugely popular among allsections of the society and the massiveturnout at his cremation is an indicationof his popularity.

HOW MUMBAI HEROESTAMED TERROR...

Vijay Salaskar Tukaram Omble Gajendra SinghAshok KamteHemanth KarkareMukhesh Jadhav

killed. Moments later, gun shotsheard from the old Taj building, apowerful explosion follows.Fri 10.57 am – One NSG commandseriously injured in the shoot out. Fri 11.49 am – gunfire and explosionin old Taj building.Fri 7.20 pm – Intense gunfire, morebodies flushed out, Sat 8.00 am – Major SandipUnnikrishnan enters the roomwhere the terrorist is holed out.Martyred in gunbattle.Sat 8.05 am - last terrorist killed.Taj liberated.

TRIDENT OBEROI HOTEL150 hostages rescued, twoterrorists killed)Wed 9.35 pm – terrorists enterTrident OberoiWed 9.57 pm – attack launched.Thu 2 am – Military arrives, rescueoperations begin, gunfire andexplosions continue throughout theday. Thu 7 pm – 10 hostages rescued.Thu 8 pm – fire breaks out in thefourth floor, soon after grenadeblasts heard.Fri 1 am – Gunshots heard frominside the hotelFri 10.30 am – another 30 hostagesrescued.Fri 2.30 pm – Operations end as allthe terrorists are killed.Nariman House (8 deaths, twoterrorists killed)Wed 10.00 pm – terror attackbegins.Thu 5.00 pm – Police realize thatRabbi Gavriel Holitzberg is heldhostage.Thu 10.15 pm – gunfire from insideNariman House, security forces freeeight hostages.Fri 01 am – 7 more hostages freed.Fri 7.27 am – five commandos landatop Nariman House. Terroristsrespond with grenade blasts.Fri 8.25 am – commandos enterfourth floor, where the terroristsare holed out. Heavy explosionsheard. Gunfire and explosionscontinue till 5 pm.11.46 pm – Operation ends, fivehostages die, all terrorists killed.Havildar Gajendra Singh, who ledthe operations martyred.

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