Search for Greyhound forces still on

The search for the greyhound forces has been intensified on the Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border for the 36 missing commandos of a high-level anti-naxal Greyhound force of Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Rajashekhara Reddy has termed it as a major intelligence failure.

A total of 66 persons, including 62 Greyhound commandos, and two policemen from Chitrakonda police station were returning back via Sileru River in a boat after a joint anti-naxal operation with the Orissa police, when it was attacked by the Maoists near Alampkekka at around 10:30 am on Sunday morning.

A total of 29 personnel including one Orissa police constable were rescued by Sunday evening and one dead body of a Greyhound person was recovered on Monday.

Naval divers and security personnel are still on their search operation on Tuesday but the boat on which they were board is still to be traced. It is believed that all the missing forces may have drowned as the reservoir is overflowing due to heavy rain.

Surprisingly as per local reports, one body of a greyhound force recovered on Monday had his hands tied on the back. This further raises the suspicion that Naxals might have killed some more security personnel who were able to escape from the high flowing river.

It was certainly a complete intelligence failure as the ultras sprayed bullets from atop a nearby hill and the security officials had no such alert message prior to the incident. As far as intelligence is concerned, it is still a big question ‘how the Maoists came to know about the returning routes of the security personnel.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced to provide 200 square yards for accommodation to each of the deceased families in addition to the compensation package of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh and a job guaranteed to a family member.

In strong words the Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy said that sacrifices made by the Greyhounds personnel would not prove futile. Home Minister K Jana Reddy also retaliated with same tone by saying that the state will strike back with high magnitude.