Govt to send 500 CRPF personnel to trace AP CM

The Centre has decided to send about 5,00 CRPF personnel for a combing operation in Naxal-affected dense forests to trace Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy whose helicopter went missing an hour after it took off carrying him from Hyderabad today.

The Centre has decided to send about 500 CRPF personnel for a combing operation in naxal-affected dense forests to trace Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy whose helicopter went missing an hour after it took off carrying him from Hyderabad today.

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Home Ministry officials said five battalions (about 500 men) of the Central Paramilitary Force will be pressed into search operation on the route over which Andhra Chief Minister was to fly.

The troops will carry out a massive combing operation in the dense forests of naxal-infested Kurnool district.

The CRPF personnel will be called from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Orissa, the officials said adding the first batch of these men is expected to reach soon.

Chief Minister's Principal Secretary S Subramanyam and Chief Security Officer ASC Wesley and two pilots were also on board the twin-engined government helicopter that lost contact at 9.35 AM when it was headed for Chitoor district, over 600 kilometres from Hyderabad.