Monday 25 May 2009

Patel's killing not an end to Maoist story

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
The killing of Maoist mastermind Patel Sudhakar Reddy, member of the Central Military Commission (the apex body of the Maoists), is a significant blow to the left wing extremist movement. This is not the end of the story.
Though Maoists have suffered heavy reverses in the state, they continue to be a source of worry and are particularly active in border areas.
Maoists from the state play a major role in the Central Committee of Maoists, as well as in committees that rule the red bastions, including Dandakaranya. The elite anti-Maoists force, Greyhounds (Special Intelligence Branch) has ensured sustained and effective action against naxals. They have demonstrated a far better understanding of Maoists operations, than the Intelligence Bureau seemed capable of doing. In addition, there has been enormous security related expenditure granted by the Central government, to build a network of informers. While these actors have dramatically changed the Maoists scenario in the state, there remains much ground to be covered. According to state police department estimates, at least 400 Maoists natives of Andhra Pradesh, are still underground. Of whom 50 are still in the AP-Chhattisgarh and AP-Orissa border areas. Some of them are already working in key posts at the Central level, and in other states. Cadres are reportedly migrating to neighbouring states as AP is no longer considered a safe haven. A majority of the members of the Maoist central committee including its general secretary Mupalla Lakshman Rao (alias Ganapati), are from the AP. The Maoist senor leadership are members of the Central Committee.
These include Ramakrishna, Cherukuri Raj Kumar, Mallaojula Venugopal, Pulluri Prasada Rao, Modem Balakrishna, J. Narasimha Reddy (alias Jampanna), Mallojula Koteswara Rao, Varanasi Subrahmanyam, Satyanrayana Reddy (alias Kosa), and Chalapati.
An intelligence official said, “Out of 28 to 30 Central Committee members, 10 are from the state. The Central Committee that looks after political affairs, and the Central Military Commission that takes care of military affairs, are dominated by Telugu speaking Maoists. The Maoist Central Military Commission functions under the directions of the central chief, Ganapati.
The Central Military Com mission in-charge, Nambala Keshava Rao (alias Basavaraj), and other mem bers like Tippiri Tirupati are also from the state.
“All these top guns wil continue to eye the state Losing AP was a big setback for them, and they want to get hold of the state again The movement remains a headache on the Andhra Orissa border districts like Visakhapatnam rural, Eas Godavari, Vizianagaram and in the Khammam on the Chhattisgarh border,” said a senior police official. Two key red bastions, Dandakarnaya and the Andhra-Orissa border, are ruled by AP Maoists. The AOB Maoist Committee is said to be headed by Ramakrishna and the AOB Military Commission by Modem Balakrishna.
The Dandakarnya Committee is headed by K.Satyanarayana Reddy (alias Kosa). The Warangal Superintendent of the police Mr V.C. Sajjanar said, “Patel Sudhakar Reddy had come here to strengthen the party.
There were efforts afoot to rebuild the movement in North Telangana.”

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