Police who chased PW now raise garden

ANANTPUR: It is a case of hands that once wielded guns now tending to roses. The Special Police personnel who have so far chased People''s War naxalites in this district are now busy planting saplings and tending to gardens at the district police office.
The police force has been called back to barracks following a ceasefire announced by the government and the naxalites.While some have been posted on gardening duties, others have been made part of cultural troupes touring the district to spread awareness among farmers.
Anantapur has increasingly been affected by naxalite activities. Top PW leaders like Bandaiah, V Muthyalappa and Tarimela Nagi Reddy hail from this district. It is believed that some naxalites from Anantapur district were involved in the attack on Chandrababu Naidu at Alipiri last year. In addition, half-adozen splinter groups of the PW have been active in the district.
With the ceasefire now on, at least 150 police personnel have been freed from the arduous task of patrolling and chasing naxalites. Muralikrishna, a sub-inspector, said they have stopped combing operations in villages and forests.
"We are planting saplings. Instead of remaining idle, our men have taken up this work as the season is right for planting saplings,'''' he said.
Officer on special duty K Venkataranga Rao, who was in charge of planning combing operations for naxalites, is now leading cultural troupes to villages to counsel distressed farmers.
Asked about his new duty, Rao said the work was providing him satisfaction as the troupes were able to provide solace to farmers at a time when they were in distress.