5,000 police personnel deployed in agency ahead

VISAKHAPATNAM: Large number of police personnel have been deployed in view of the 3-day visit of first-time elected MLAs to Visakha Agency from January 9. About 5,000 police personnel including commandos have been deployed at Chintapalle, Paderu and Araku mandals. Along with MLAs led by Assembly Speaker N Manohar, about 15 ministers are also participating in the tour. According to Secretary of Legislative Assembly, Raja Sadaram, about 72 Congress men, 42 TDP, 15 PRP, 7 TRS and 3 CPI MLAs have been elected for the first time to the assembly. "We have sent invitations to all MLAs and already 125 persons including 7 TRS MLAs confirmed their participation," Raja Sadaram told Express.With tribal folk and their supporters protesting against the MLAs' tour demanding government to announce the withdrawal of bauxite mining, the yatra route is a high-risk zone as Maoists have a strong presence in the agency. MLAs and Ministers will assemble at the Government Circuit Guest House and then proceed to Paderu by AC luxury coaches. The convoy will be guarded by about 50 police vehicles besides a special road party and pilot vehicles.The MLAs are expected to reach Paderu on January 9, after a darshan of Modakondamma, the deity of Visakhapatnam Agency. The MLAs will also visit the coffee gardens at Paderu following which they interact with tribals and proceed towards Araku via Hukumpet. There will be orientation classes for MLAs on tribal life, forest produce, government schemes and ITDA's role at Araku on January 10. The district administration has arranged cultural programmes for MLAs on January 10.The MLAs will visit Ananthagiri hills where the tourism department will shed light on tourism programmes. The MLAs and Ministers will then leave Visakhapatnma on January 12.