Hostage To Revolution

The much-awaited detente may have to wait still. The Andhra government is once again in a bind over a hostage drama scripted by Naxalites. The People’s War has said it will release the three cops abducted by its guerrillas in Prakasham district last week only if the government agrees to its demands, which include the release of seven prisoners serving life sentences in Andhra and Karnataka jails and dropping of all POTA charges against 16 Naxalites and their alleged sympathisers. Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, under fire for slapping POTA charges on Congress MLA Konda Surekha and her husband for allegedly plotting with the PW to eliminate political rivals, has hinted that the charges may be dropped.