Is CPI (Maoist) focusing again on Telangana? Have top Maoist leaders infiltrated into the state from the border districts? Are police preparing to launch a major offensive to eliminate the militants? The developments in the border areas give rise to these questions.
Central intelligence sources too are reported to have confirmed the entry of Maoists into the district from neighbouring states. A crucial meeting of police and intelligence officials was held in the remote forest village of Venkatapuram in Mulugu district on Sunday (October 4). Apart from Telangana DGP M Mahender Reddy, the meeting was attended by intelligence officials, senior security advisor to Union home ministry K Vijay Kumar, CRPF director general (DG) Maheshwari and other officials.
Sources say the attendees discussed probable infiltration of senior Naxalite leaders into Telangana and strategies to be adopted to control their movements and activities. It is said that senior leaders who were active in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra have entered the state. State and Central agencies are trying to trace their movements by strengthening intelligence and security networks in border areas.
Killings or destruction?
Police suspect that Maoists may resort to some sort of sensational incident to announce their entry into the state. They have advised public representatives in the border districts to be cautious during their movements. Naxals have resorted to vandalism and even killing of leaders to make their presence felt in the past. It is to be seen whether they will indulge in violence or opt other modes to create sensation this time. If they choose violence, it would be a Herculean task for police to provide security to so many public representatives and leaders. In such a scenario, leaders in forest areas have either been shifted to Hyderabad or provided with special security.
Fear of public revulsion
Police and security officials speculate that rather than killing public representatives which would turn the common people against them, the Maoists may resort to destruction of private and public properties to announce their presence. They point out that in the past too, Maoists adopted the same strategy to keep the local population in their grip.
Central intelligence agencies has also reportedly given similar assessment to the state police. Union home ministry’s security advisor K Vijay Kumar, who was one of the participants in Mulugu meeting, is said to have suggested precautionary steps to curb the movements and violent acts by Maoists.