NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SARDAR PATEL BHAVAN SANSAD MARG, NEW DELHl Name of the complainant A.P.C.L.C. File Nos. From Naxalbari, a place in the Northern region of West Bengal, under the initial leadership of one Kanhu Sanyal, originated the concept of forcible protest against the social order relating to holdin$ of property and sharing of social benefits. In course of time, it developed into what came to be known as the Naxallite movement. In due course it gpread into parts of Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and bordering districts of Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and ~aharashtra. Naxallite got divided into different groups - sometimes known by their faith and at other times going by the names of their leadeli. In Andhra Pradesh, though initially known as Naxallites, they came to have their identity under the nomenclature of "Peoples War Group" (PWG) by 1980. It is unnecessary to deal with various groups of the PWG operating in Andhra 2. Pradesh. The activities were brpadly the sarne,though the mode varied from group to group and occasion to occasion. At the inception, so far Andhra, Pradesh is concerned, Naxall[te activities were confined to the district of Srikakulam and bordering areas of Orissa and spread into some of the Telengana district; like Warangal, Karimnagar and Nalgonda. 3. Concentration of activities has mostly been in rural areas but there have been many eventful incidents in urban areas too. Hundreds of innocent vill'agers and'.a considerable number of policemen have been done to death'by the PWG men, government property has been targetted and very often set on fire causing substantial loss to government, both State and Central and even owners of buildings where public offices were being held in tenanted premises have suffered on this account. Initially, perhaps, attacks were concentrated on the richer groups hut later peoplefrom the poor classes also did not escape attack, on both person and property. There have been incidents where the male members have been done to death and the female folk have 4 I