Forces rushed to Andhra; Assam, Bengal put on alert

NEW DELHI: Even as a decision on Telangana is awaited, the Union home ministry has put its forces on standby not only in Andhra Pradesh but also other regions seeking statehood - mainly, Darjeeling hills (Gorkhaland), Bodoland, Karbi-Anglong and even Vidarbha - in anticipation of law and order exigencies. 

Around 3,500 Central paramilitary personnel — of which 1,000 were dispatched by the Centre on Saturday - are being positioned across the sensitive cities/towns of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the Rayalaseema region. In addition, a deployment chart has been prepared by the MHA pinpointing the additional forces that can be moved to the state at a short notice.

Most of these "standby" forces are stationed in border districts of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, besides the counter-Naxal grid in Andhra Pradesh, and can be reallocated to the affected areas depending on how things play in the southern state after the "big" announcement. 

According to Union home ministry sources, another 2,000-3,000 troops may be needed by Andhra Pradesh in the days to come. "We are ready with our reserves and will move in forces as and when the need arises," a government official told TOI. Incidentally, the security arrangements ahead of a decision on Telangana were subject matter of discussions last week between Union home secretary Anil Goswami and Andhra Pradesh chief secretary P K Mohanty and DGP V Dinesh Reddy. 

Both Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Goswami had assured the state government officials all possible central help to maintain peace in Andhra Pradesh. 

Incidentally, the Centre's concerns regarding the law and order repercussions of a call on Telangana are not limited to Andhra Pradesh alone. Agencies have warned of a flare-up of the situation in Darjeeling hills, where a 72-hour bandh has been called to step up pressure for separate Gorkhaland state. Similarly, people demanding Bodoland and Karbi-Anglong to be carved out of Assam are expected to up the ante, and agencies fear some violence in these regions as well. Vidarbha is also a concern. 

The Centre has asked the Assam government to redeploy the forces already stationed in the state, including the border troops, to counter any law and order problems in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area and Karbi-Anglong. Similarly, it has advised the West Bengal government to divert the Central forces deployed for the just-concluded panchayat polls to manage the protests in Darjeeling and adjoining areas.