'I'm ready to take on Naxals, but department won't let me'

ldquoI am aware that 104 policemen have been killed by Naxals in the last six years here in Gadchiroli But while I am ready to risk my life the department has discouraged me in fighting against Naxalismrdquo says Thane encounter specialist Ravindra Angre It had earlier been reported that Angre had turned down a posting in the district gripped by Red Terror Ravindra Angre the 1983batch officer from Maharashtra Police Training Academy had gunned down 54 hardcore underworld gangsters in Mumbai and Thane including robberturneddon Suresh Manchekar in August 2003 The 1983batch officer from Maharashtra Police Training Academy is responsible for gunning down 54 hardcore underworld gangsters in Mumbai and Thane including robberturneddon Suresh Manchekar in August 2003 He has been made to run from pillar to post despite his willingness to fight against Maoists in Gadchiroli In November there were reports that Angre had declined a recent transfer to the district following which he was placed under suspension But soon after that the controversial cop went back to work anyway and the layoff was revoked Angry Angre Coming down heavily on his superiors Angre alleged that his bosses have not valued his expertise owing to which he is being forced to work in the police control room at Gadchiroli In protest Angre has once again gone on sick leave ldquoI have served the Crime Branch for almost 20 years Being a part of the Mumbai encounter specialist cadre my team had played an active role in containing the underworld Now when I am ready to take on the Naxals the superintendent of Gadchiroli wants me to sit in the police control roomrdquo Angre lamented In the past few years Angre has courted controversy several times Following allegations by a local builder he was arrested and put behind bars on two occasions Subsequent to a departmental inquiry he was transferred to the Naxaldominated district ldquoAs I resumed responsibilities several young officers visited me They expressed their willingness to work with me I had built a good rapport with the young lot They had been open enough to share their informants with me With frequent interactions I had planned a line of attack against Naxalism If I get a chance to implement it some Maoists will even surrender to the policerdquo said Angre who had enrolled and completed a month long course in Jungle Tactics and Survival at Gadchiroli Dichotomy in dept Sources in the DGPrsquos office revealed that some senior officials of additionaldirector general rank are keen on letting Angre lead the charge against Naxalism but superintendent of police Suvez Haque is adamant on keeping him in the police control room Angre alleged that he had met Haque on at least four occasions but the latter had rejected his request stating he was too old to fight Naxals Justifying his eligibility Angre added ldquoI have faith in myself and believe that with age I also have experience to supervise and encourage young officers who can be trained in counterattacksrdquo Angre has sought posting in the C60 unit which specialises in antiNaxal operations There are 21 teams of the C60 unit at Gadchiroli each with one subinspectorlevel officer while the rest are constables and jamadaars As per Angrersquos claims being the seniormost police inspector of Gadchiroli if he is put in charge of these teams he would be able to counter Maoists to a great extent ldquoI am not saying that I can eradicate Naxalism but they should at least give me a chance I have a couple of years left in the police force and I wish to do something good for the department before I retirerdquo he opined When contacted superintendent of police Haque said ldquoIt is a sensitive posting Unless he Angre comes clean on the departmental inquiries against him it will be very difficult to give him the post he has applied forrdquo Unenviable task Getting officers willing to work in Naxalaffected areas has always been a tough task for the state police Cops who have been transferred to Gadchiroli or other Maoist strongholds such as Chandrapur Gondia etc either apply for sick leave or manipulate the transfer with the help of their political godfathers Even the young recruits opt for postings outside these pockets Considering the ldquodangerous nature of their workrdquo the state adopted a government resolution GR on March 20 this year to hike the salary and dearness allowance of cops serving in Naxalaffected areas by 50 per cent The increase however is only for a year from January 1 to December 31 Sources say since those posted in Gadchiroli are entitled to special pay officers on the verge of retirement seek assignments here This is because the last salary drawn becomes the basis for determining pension Those who voluntarily accepted a posting in Gadchiroli were not relieved for as many as eight years some officials maintained Where cops fear to tread Between 2005 and 2011 104 police personnel were slain in Naxalaffected areas of the state In the same period 107 Maoists and 94 civilians were also killed None of the officers in the police force roam with the departmentrsquos ID cards Rather cops working in these pockets carry excise sales or other state government department identities fearing attack by Naxalsu00a0Taking advantage of the poor intelligence situation the militants often participate in lsquopeacersquo rallies organised mostly inside police stations Young recruits who had joined the police force from remote villages in Gadchiroli Chandrapur and Gondia have not visited their homes in the last 15 years dreading Naxal strikes In a recent attack a group of Naxals set ablaze 27 heavy vehicles of a contractor in Dhanora in broad daylight Despite repeated calls to the local police station no cops turned up Naxals were at the spot for more than six hours 54 No of underworld gangsters killed by Angre