Khammam: The Telangana government, which wanted to develop backward regions in the state by providing basic amenities, decided to reduce influence of left-wing extremist groups by checking the movement of underground armed dalams.
Several development projects were pending in these areas because of the extortions being made by armed dalams.
As a result, many contractors were afraid to take up infrastructure projects in the area. The stalling of development projects are being treated seriously by the new government.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao wanted to prove himself as a man who fulfills his poll promises.
In the 90s, the police ignored the spread of New Democracy armed dalams in the area as a counter weight against the Maoist movement.
A police official said, “Since there is no Maoist party in the area we will focus on reducing influence of these armed dalams.”
He also said that it is one day affair to police to remove these dalams from the area, but they would follow the systems.
In nineties, police had not eyed the spreading of New Democracy armed dalams in the area as part of its strategy. The department viewed the ND as a tool in checking the Maoist movement in the area. A police official, on condition of anonymity, said, “It is fact that they allowed ND dalams earlier to move freely there. But, now there was no Maoist party in the area and they would eye now on these armed dalams”. He also said that it is one day affair to police to remove these dalams from the area, but they would follow the systems.
Police teams started the operation to check the armed dalams and they kept vigil on the native villages of armed dalam leaders.
For example, the Rs 96 crore road project from Yellandu to Gundala has been facing hurdles with these armed forces. The contractor stopped the work after receiving threatening calls from these dalam leaders. It viewed seriously by the government. CPI- ML (New Democracy) district secretary P Ranga Rao said that the police threatened their leaders to kill them in encounters. “It is nothing but retaliation act against a party”, he added. But the police officials refuted this.
Superintendent of police of Khammam district in an occasion said, “As per the rules, carrying weapons by the people is a crime. We will act according to it”.
