Protest the Rise of Vigilante Violence Against Human Rights Activists in Andhra

We, the undersigned, express our concern at the rise of vigilante violence in Andhra Pradesh and its targeting of human rights activists in the state.

The Congress Party got elected to power with the promise of bringing peace to Andhra Pradesh a violence torn region through a negotiated settlement with the Maoists. The breakdown of talks and peace process in the state earlier this year reflects a general lack of political will and trust between the Maoists and the government at the state and central level. While this is something for introspection by all the actors including the Naxalites, recent incidence of murders (of a teacher and civil liberties activist Kanakachari) and issuance of public threats to human rights activists by a group calling itself Narsa Cobras is causing immediate concern to all of us.

The return of vigilante groups which played havoc all over the state but especially in the state capital during the Telugu Desam's reign is a matter of concern to all democratically minded persons. While it may be difficult to prove that links between individual police officers and Narsa Cobras or their predecessors Green Tigers,Tirumala tigers, Kranti Sena and now Kakatiya Cobras ( all of whom have left a trail of blood), it is widely known all over the world that such vigilante groups have been used by police officers to deal with militant political movements.

That the government of Andhra Pradesh which rode to power on a wave of popular resentment against the previous regimes is now giving free reign to unscrupulous elements in the police department is a mockery of democracy. Worse, in a globalizing economy where human rights records of states are constantly monitored, these groups and their official backers are certain to damage the potential for development.

The trail of violence left by these groups is as follows:
* Green Tigers: Claimed to have killed T.Purushottam of APCLC in 2000.
* Green Tigers: Killed Azam Ali also of APCLC in 2001
* Singamalai of Tirumala Tigers: claimed to have kidnapped and tortured Dr. G.Laxman of APCLC in the year 2004.
* Kranti Sena: Claimed to have have killed a number of rural supporters of the Peoples War in the 1990s.
* Haribhushan alias Javed (ex constable) repeatedly threatens Burra Ramulu and other officebearers of AP Human Rights Forum at Warangal.
* Narsa Cobras: Claimed to have killed Kanakachari, teacher in Mahub Nagar and issued threats to a large number of individuals through the mass media.

We demand that you make an unambiguous statement on your commitment to curtailing the links between these groups and the police department.
Afterall, in a democracy, it is ultimately the responsibility of the political wing of the government to resolve a socio-political issue like Naxalism. We hope you will take necessary action to avoid infamy in the eyes of the world.