Cops try to move closer to tribals

ADILABAD
Oct. 25: District police have started welfare activities under Police Meekosam after a long gap to counter the Maoists and wean tribal youth away from their influence.
They have started various welfare activities like conducting health camps, distributing books to students, sports kits to the youth and blankets to elders in the eastern parts of the district in the wake of Maoists movements noticed recently in tribal areas.
Superintendent of police P. Pramod Kumar took the initiative and personally took part in programmes organised at various places in the last three days.
Police are inviting Adivasi public representatives to the health camps. Police conducted health camps in Naxalite-affected areas of Velgi in Wankidi and Chirrakunta in Mandamarri mandal in the last two days. A health camp was conducted at Tiryani on Sunday.
Zilla parishad chairman Sidam Ganapathi, Asifabad MLA Atram Sakku and SP Pramod Kumar took part in the health camp at Tiryani.
Police said that medical tests were conducted for 500 tribals at the camp at Tiryani and 20 tribals were identified for cataract operation.
Police will take them to Mancherial, get them operated, provide them spectacles and drop them at their houses.
A large number of tribals attended the health camp from 10 villages including Pangidi Madara, Gopera, Mangi, Singapur and Ginnedhari.
Speaking on the occasion, SP Pramod Kumar said that police were always there to help tribals and added that they could approach police to solve their problems and seek their help without fear. He appealed to tribals not to help the Naxalites.