Security situation around AP forests

COUGAR · 7th August 2010, 07:26

AP members: How is the general security situation around the forests in AP currently?

Specifically Prakasam and Kurnool districts. I am making plans for a chut-phut drive in that direction.

jeevmenon · 7th August 2010, 08:27

@COUGAR: Was the security in AP forests at question any time in the recent past? Any unsafe incidents reported? Thanks.

hvkumar · 7th August 2010, 08:59

There have been unsafe spots in AP always thanks to the decades-old Naxal problems, especially in areas like Panyam, Srisailam, Bhadrachalam, Adilabad & Kadiri. Night traffic is often allowed only under police escort in convoy, but day time is OK. I have not heard of any safety issues of late. One of our friends has driven on the route beyond Srisailam to Ongole in the night without trouble. Traffic on NH7 between Nagpur & Hyderabad is OK 24x7. Travelling in the Warangal-Bhadrachalam belt is a strict no-no at nights, and if you choose to travel beyond to Chattisgarh, one has to be very careful even by day. Night travel on Khammam-Rajahmundry road is fine.

COUGAR · 7th August 2010, 09:53

@HVK: Not venturing anywhere close to Adilabad or Chattisgarh.

planning to head for Gundla near Nandyal.

Hope this area is safe?

hvkumar · 7th August 2010, 10:55

No, COUGAR, the area around Nandyal/Panyam is a hard-core Naxal area and one is cautioned not to go there in the night. The Gundla place you mention is towards Srisailam and close to where the YSR helicopter crashed, that is also known to have Naxal problems. I have driven through Nandyal-Panyam stretch with police escort at night, but going by day should be OK. However, exercise total care, I have been stopped by Naxals even by daytime in Kadiri-Pulimentla part of AP.

ampere · 7th August 2010, 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

I have been stopped by Naxals even by daytime in Kadiri-Pulimentla part of AP.

HVK how was this experience?
Can you tell the story?

hvkumar · 7th August 2010, 11:35

I had made an official trip in my Matiz from Bombay to Bellary and Cudappah. On Mar 23, 2004, I had left Cudappah for my next meeting at Chitradurga and decided to take the route via Pulimentla, Kadiri, Penukonda and Challakere to Chitradurga.

This is rocky country with small villages scattered around, but 52 kms after crossing Kadiri and 15 kms before Puttaparthi, the country side is really bleak and lonely when, at 1030 am, I spied many men descending down a slope onto the road ahead some half a km away. There were no human settlements or activity on the road or neighbourhood. I instictively slowed down and continued till I reached the mean - some 20 of them - as they started crossing the road - all men, dressed in black, some with AK 47 type guns, of all ages and sizes, some of them must have been very young. Since they were crossing, I crawled, and after I crossed 3-5 of them, I could see from the corner of the eye through the OVRM a gesture by one of them (maybe the team leader) to stop me. So the guy ahead stopped my car and I obediently came to a halt. Opened the window and deferentially asked them what is the matter. He saw my MH number plates, realised I was no local (I had my 60+ colleague also with me in the front seat) and asked me in Hindi where I was going - to which I told him, Bangalore, but via Chitradurga. We also told him that we were from Bombay here on some work - we were minor bank officials on duty (my story) - and after looking into the car and some silence, he gestured me on.

We had to be careful what we said - we were very close to Puttaparthi, but we could not say we were on pilgrimmage, since Sai Baba himself was in the Naxal's radar at that time. We could not state our genuine purpose - I was on some work mission for my client UN, since that would have provoked them into kidnapping "UN officials" - and the bank officer story was the best I could concoct for the moment. And I was very polite, answered them without losing my cool.

And thus we got away.

ampere · 7th August 2010, 12:53

That was real presence of mind! As you rightly said:
Its very difficult, in these times, as to what has to be spoken?
What can get these guys enraged, and what will make them let us go!

COUGAR · 7th August 2010, 13:16

seriously scary.

its fixed then: i'd rather turn direct towards Bengaluru from Chandoli. Hope atleast the Sangli area is safe.

ampere · 2nd August 2015, 17:21

Are these regions around Kadiri/Puttaparthi still the same ? Any improvements?

NPV · 2nd August 2015, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

Are these regions around Kadiri/Puttaparthi still the same ? Any improvements?

From what I know, the route from Bangalore via Devanahalli/NH 7 is quite safe in day times before dusk, not sure beyond that/night time travel.

ampere · 2nd August 2015, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by NPV

From what I know, the route from Bangalore is quite safe in day times before dusk, not sure beyond that/night time travel.

No I am referring to the Madanapalle/Kadiri side of entrance and not the Bangalore/Bagepally side of it. Bangalore side is quite safe during day time.

hvkumar · 3rd August 2015, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

Are these regions around Kadiri/Puttaparthi still the same ? Any improvements?

It is lonely. Very few villages. Less traffic. I would avoid after dark

ranjitp1 · 3rd August 2015, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

No I am referring to the Madanapalle/Kadiri side of entrance and not the Bangalore/Bagepally side of it. Bangalore side is quite safe during day time.

Very very lonely,and the landscape changes in the dark!

bik1906 · 9th August 2015, 17:28

I think I should do a little more research next time before venturing out!! I just returned from a solo ride to puttaparthi and since I generally like to visit the jungles I went off road for a bit into the gangampalli forest area. While I didnt see any sign of naxal movement I definitely think its the most desolate landscape I have seen in a while. Additionally all these areas have only one road in and out of them so theres no chance of turning around in case you spot trouble.

7th August 2010, 07:26	#1
COUGAR BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 548 Thanked: 94 Times View My Garage	Security situation around AP forests AP members: How is the general security situation around the forests in AP currently? Specifically Prakasam and Kurnool districts. I am making plans for a chut-phut drive in that direction.
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 08:27	#2
jeevmenon BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: TN07 Posts: 472 Thanked: 23 Times	@COUGAR: Was the security in AP forests at question any time in the recent past? Any unsafe incidents reported? Thanks.
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 08:59	#3
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	There have been unsafe spots in AP always thanks to the decades-old Naxal problems, especially in areas like Panyam, Srisailam, Bhadrachalam, Adilabad & Kadiri. Night traffic is often allowed only under police escort in convoy, but day time is OK. I have not heard of any safety issues of late. One of our friends has driven on the route beyond Srisailam to Ongole in the night without trouble. Traffic on NH7 between Nagpur & Hyderabad is OK 24x7. Travelling in the Warangal-Bhadrachalam belt is a strict no-no at nights, and if you choose to travel beyond to Chattisgarh, one has to be very careful even by day. Night travel on Khammam-Rajahmundry road is fine.
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 09:53	#4
COUGAR BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 548 Thanked: 94 Times View My Garage	@HVK: Not venturing anywhere close to Adilabad or Chattisgarh. planning to head for Gundla near Nandyal. Hope this area is safe?
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 10:55	#5
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	No, COUGAR, the area around Nandyal/Panyam is a hard-core Naxal area and one is cautioned not to go there in the night. The Gundla place you mention is towards Srisailam and close to where the YSR helicopter crashed, that is also known to have Naxal problems. I have driven through Nandyal-Panyam stretch with police escort at night, but going by day should be OK. However, exercise total care, I have been stopped by Naxals even by daytime in Kadiri-Pulimentla part of AP.
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 11:35	#7
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	I had made an official trip in my Matiz from Bombay to Bellary and Cudappah. On Mar 23, 2004, I had left Cudappah for my next meeting at Chitradurga and decided to take the route via Pulimentla, Kadiri, Penukonda and Challakere to Chitradurga. This is rocky country with small villages scattered around, but 52 kms after crossing Kadiri and 15 kms before Puttaparthi, the country side is really bleak and lonely when, at 1030 am, I spied many men descending down a slope onto the road ahead some half a km away. There were no human settlements or activity on the road or neighbourhood. I instictively slowed down and continued till I reached the mean - some 20 of them - as they started crossing the road - all men, dressed in black, some with AK 47 type guns, of all ages and sizes, some of them must have been very young. Since they were crossing, I crawled, and after I crossed 3-5 of them, I could see from the corner of the eye through the OVRM a gesture by one of them (maybe the team leader) to stop me. So the guy ahead stopped my car and I obediently came to a halt. Opened the window and deferentially asked them what is the matter. He saw my MH number plates, realised I was no local (I had my 60+ colleague also with me in the front seat) and asked me in Hindi where I was going - to which I told him, Bangalore, but via Chitradurga. We also told him that we were from Bombay here on some work - we were minor bank officials on duty (my story) - and after looking into the car and some silence, he gestured me on. We had to be careful what we said - we were very close to Puttaparthi, but we could not say we were on pilgrimmage, since Sai Baba himself was in the Naxal's radar at that time. We could not state our genuine purpose - I was on some work mission for my client UN, since that would have provoked them into kidnapping "UN officials" - and the bank officer story was the best I could concoct for the moment. And I was very polite, answered them without losing my cool. And thus we got away.
	(1) Thanks

7th August 2010, 12:53	#8
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,930 Thanked: 12,901 Times View My Garage	That was real presence of mind! As you rightly said: Its very difficult, in these times, as to what has to be spoken? What can get these guys enraged, and what will make them let us go!
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 13:16	#9
COUGAR BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 548 Thanked: 94 Times View My Garage	seriously scary. its fixed then: i'd rather turn direct towards Bengaluru from Chandoli. Hope atleast the Sangli area is safe.
	() Thanks

2nd August 2015, 17:21	#10
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,930 Thanked: 12,901 Times View My Garage	Re: Security situation around AP forests Are these regions around Kadiri/Puttaparthi still the same ? Any improvements?
	() Thanks

9th August 2015, 17:28	#15
bik1906 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Bangalore Posts: 87 Thanked: 152 Times	Re: Security situation around AP forests I think I should do a little more research next time before venturing out!! I just returned from a solo ride to puttaparthi and since I generally like to visit the jungles I went off road for a bit into the gangampalli forest area. While I didnt see any sign of naxal movement I definitely think its the most desolate landscape I have seen in a while. Additionally all these areas have only one road in and out of them so theres no chance of turning around in case you spot trouble.
	() Thanks