Reports of Maoists entering Telangana through Khammam and Warangal forests are creating flutter in the state. Intelligence reports suggest Maoists have crept into Adilabad district in the last two months. DGP Mahender Reddy camped in the district for a week to personally monitor combing activities. This is the first time that a DGP level police officer is camping in the district to oversee anti-Naxal operations in 10 years. This secretive visit of the top cop fuelled speculation on the surge in Maoist movements in the border districts. When asked about his Adilabad visit, the DGP was evasive saying that they were not targeting any specific leader but were always keeping an eye on the situation on the border.
At this juncture, an encounter took place on Khammam-Chhattisgarh border, in which a policeman too was injured. It has been five years since Maoist movements were observed in the area. Barring sporadic incidents of Maoists putting up posters during polls calling for boycott, there has been no significant Naxal activity in these districts. Soon after the encounter, Maoists carried out a land mine blast on September 6 night. Within 24 hours, two Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire in the area. These incidents confirm the entry and activities of Maoists in Telangana border districts.
Ganapati surrender a rumour?
Reports of impending surrender of top Maoist leader Muppalla Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapati made rounds amid reports of revival of Naxal activity in Telangana. As the CPI (Maoist) debunked the reports of Ganapati surrender, now analysts see the link between Maoist activity and these reports. They suggest that surrender stories might be an attempt by police to blunt the impact of Maoists in Telangana by creating the impression that the group has no future with all the senior leaders on their way to surrender.
It is learned that Maoists have been carrying out underground activities for some time in the state. Three sisters were arrested last year in Hyderabad. Police claim they are Maoists and had even worked in forests as armed members of the party. Later, some more people were arrested for being the sympathisers of Maoists. All these developments are causing concern among people of the state who have not yet forgotten the bloody and violent past.
