Sunday, January 23 2005 12:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: Amidst the stand off between ruling partners Congress and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) in Andhra Pradesh over naxalite issue, the State police has come out with a report disclosing that several TRS functionaries had links with naxalite organisations.

In a report submitted to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, the State intelligence department has revealed that over 40 TRS functionaries, holding different positions, had connections with extremist organisations in the past and some of them are still naxalite sympathisers.

Among the people's representatives who are either naxal sympathisers or had worked with them in the past, according to the report, are TRS MLA K Eswar from Karimnagar district and the party's Adilabad district secretary Praveen, official sources said in Hyderabad today (Jan 23, 2005).

Several TRS leaders holding elected posts in panchayat raj institutions including zilla parishad, mandal parishad and village sarpanch's were found to have links with Maoist organisations, sources said quoting the intelligence report.

The police report comes against the backdrop of widening rift between Congress and TRS with the latter openly criticising the Government's handling of the naxalite issue.

Condemning the recent spurt in police encounters in which several naxals were killed, the TRS has demanded an immediate halt to encounter killings and combing operations.

Despite being a partner in the coalition Governments at the Centre and in the State, the TRS has been organising demonstrations protesting against police encounters and demanding immediate resumption of peace talks with naxalites.

The sub-regional party has also threatened to review the alliance with Congress if the Government failed to concede its demands.