PW and Maoist merger a boon or bane?
By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
In 2004 Peoples War the left wing extremist group operated in AP andMaoist CommunistCentre in Bihar and adjoining areas merged to form CPI Maoist. This isa significant stepthat change the scenario.Balladeer Gaddar says ,"the merger to form CPI Maoist made the issue anational onewith Centre coming into larger picture. Under the leadership of centreStates are workingin tandem. Use cell phones and modern technology also proved fatal forthe movement.Peace process with Naxals is not on the agenda of Y S Rajasekhar Reddyin the recentelections. There is a different between Chandra Babu Naidu's and YSRsrule in dealingwith Naxal issue. During Naidu's regime each and every activist iskilled. In YSRs ruleonly the top leaders are identified and they are finished off in thepast five years. Daysafter he took over the Top Maoist leader Patel Sudhakar Reddy was killed.,"Mr Gaddar added ,"there are no voices raised when central leaders likeChandra Moulifrom BC community are killed. They are all of our batch in early1970s. Those who gotvotes in the name of Telangana didn't speak out about these encounterkillings,""Killing the naxals is the policy of the centre and till the Naxalscarry the weapons theycontinue to do this," said Gaddar.Several top Maoists have already arrested or surrendered or killed inthe encounter.Raji Reddy, CPI Maoist State Committee secretary K Ialaiah aliasSambasivudu arearrested and Lanka Papi Reddy surrendered and Chandra Mouli andRajamouli, MastanRao were killed in the encounter. Earlier Maoist State CommitteeSecretary Madhav waskilled.According to Ministry of Home Affairs eighty per cent of Maoistsincidents were reportedfrom four States in Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Bihar.MHA opined that highest number of casualties are reported from Chattisgarh andJharkhand are mainly due to increase use of Improved Explosive devices.However in the State has shown drastically decreasing trend in theState from 2005. In2005 535 incidents of Naxal violence took place and 186 civilian, 161naxals and 22police are killed. In 2008 it deceased to 95 cases. They were cleared off fromNallamalais(adjoining Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Guntur and Prakasham) and NorthTelangana except in borders.In 2009 seven Maoists were killed in encounters including the two ofthem and sevencivilians are killed by Maoists including the latest incident onSaturday night atKhammam. During the recent elections there was no incident.The other Naxal groups like Janashakti, Praja Prathighatana and PrajaPandha arealmost wiped out in the State and centre. Targeting frontalorganisations and Naxalsympathisers also yielded good results for police in the State.CPI(ML) Janasakthi leader Kura Rajanna who was released from bailrecently said,"almost 99 per cent of leaders of such stature are killed in covertoperation or otheroperations and rarely killed in the battle field," He admitted thatgovernment and policehave got upperhand over the naxals.A senior police official of State police headquarters said ,"Naxalsissues are monitoredat the central level with regular meetings of empowered group ofMinster headed byUnion Home Minister, standing committee of all Chief Ministers ofNaxal affected statesand a Task Force headed by Special Secretary(internal security) comprising ofIntelligence officials,"Centre which asked all the States to form a reasonable component ofpolice as specialforce with commando training in jungle warfare have formed COBRA with CRPF.Sources said it will take one or two months for COBRA to becomeoperational. MHA hasdirected the States of sustained police action in Andhra model andthere shall be nopeace dialogue with the Naxals.According to MHA status paper in the past five years Rs 35 crore wasgiven to Andhra inthe past five years and Rs 34 crore to Chattisgarh and Rs 42 crore toJharkand and Rs23 crore to Orissa for Security Related expenditure. For modernisationof police in naxalaffected States AP was given Rs 424 crore."even central paramilitary forces are deployed on large scale. Atleast 36 companies aredeployed in the naxal affected States including 4 in the State," saidan official.Fact File1. In 2008 95 cases of extremist offences were registered in the Stateduring the year2008, compared to 124 cases in previous year, showing a decrease of23.38 per cent.2. Thirty seven extremist Murders were registered in 2008 as against same (in2007. Khammam district registered highest number of extremist murders (19)followed by Visakhapatnam Rural (6), Warangal(4) and Srikakulam &Vizianagaram(2 each).
Showing posts with label Andhra Maoists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andhra Maoists. Show all posts
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.”
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.”
Top Maoist Patel Sudhakar Reddy killed in encounter
By U Sudhakar Reddy Two top Maoists, including the extremists’ central committee member Patel Sudhakar Reddy were killed in an encounter with the police in Tadwai forests in the district on Sunday morning.
Reddy, also member of the Maoists’ central military commission, carried a Rs 12-lakh reward on his head and was said to have plotted some of the biggest attacks in the country.
Reddy alias Suryam had masterminded the assassination attempts on the then chief minister, Mr N.Chandrababu Naidu, near Tirupati in November 2004 and the former chief minis ter, Mr N. Janardhan Reddy, in Nellore last year.
He was also accused in the killing of IPS officers K.L.Vyas and Umesh Chandra and had plotted raids on police stations.
The other slain Maoist was identified as K. Venkataiah, state committee member who also headed the Maoists’ tech unit. He was also named in the assassination attempt on Mr Naidu.
The Warangal superintendent of police. Mr V.C.Sajjannar, said the police was on intensified search operations after they were alerted from across the border that Maoists were entering the district from Chhattisgarh.
The encounter took place at around 5.30 am when the police came across a group of Maoists who were holding a meeting in the forest.
Police said that the Maoists opened fire though they were asked to surrender.
Police returned fire, killing the two top Maoists, while others fled the scene. The police recovered an AK-47rifle, an 8 mm rifle and a 9 mm pistol from the site, apart from Rs 20,000 and three kit bags. The AP High Court on Sunday issued orders to the Warangal police to conduct a second post-mortem examination of the body of Patel Sudhakar Reddy.
The order came on a house motion moved by a civil liberties activist, Prof.
S. Seshaiah. Police sources said Reddy was involved in the seige of Nayagarh, Orissa, on February 25, 2008, in which Maoists killed 13 policemen and looted 1,200 weapons.
Police see his hallmark in the attack on Greyhounds at the Balimela reservoir last year, where 36 personnel were killed. “Reddy is a key strategist who used laptop regularly. His speeches are fiery and he is popular,” said an official.
Police said Reddy was an expert bomb maker and had played a key role in developing claymore mines and rocket launchers. He was also an accused in the killing of former home minister A. Madhava Reddy.
Reddy was an engineering graduate and completed his LLB from Raichur, Karnataka.
He joined the naxals while doing his post graduation at OU.
Reddy, also member of the Maoists’ central military commission, carried a Rs 12-lakh reward on his head and was said to have plotted some of the biggest attacks in the country.
Reddy alias Suryam had masterminded the assassination attempts on the then chief minister, Mr N.Chandrababu Naidu, near Tirupati in November 2004 and the former chief minis ter, Mr N. Janardhan Reddy, in Nellore last year.
He was also accused in the killing of IPS officers K.L.Vyas and Umesh Chandra and had plotted raids on police stations.
The other slain Maoist was identified as K. Venkataiah, state committee member who also headed the Maoists’ tech unit. He was also named in the assassination attempt on Mr Naidu.
The Warangal superintendent of police. Mr V.C.Sajjannar, said the police was on intensified search operations after they were alerted from across the border that Maoists were entering the district from Chhattisgarh.
The encounter took place at around 5.30 am when the police came across a group of Maoists who were holding a meeting in the forest.
Police said that the Maoists opened fire though they were asked to surrender.
Police returned fire, killing the two top Maoists, while others fled the scene. The police recovered an AK-47rifle, an 8 mm rifle and a 9 mm pistol from the site, apart from Rs 20,000 and three kit bags. The AP High Court on Sunday issued orders to the Warangal police to conduct a second post-mortem examination of the body of Patel Sudhakar Reddy.
The order came on a house motion moved by a civil liberties activist, Prof.
S. Seshaiah. Police sources said Reddy was involved in the seige of Nayagarh, Orissa, on February 25, 2008, in which Maoists killed 13 policemen and looted 1,200 weapons.
Police see his hallmark in the attack on Greyhounds at the Balimela reservoir last year, where 36 personnel were killed. “Reddy is a key strategist who used laptop regularly. His speeches are fiery and he is popular,” said an official.
Police said Reddy was an expert bomb maker and had played a key role in developing claymore mines and rocket launchers. He was also an accused in the killing of former home minister A. Madhava Reddy.
Reddy was an engineering graduate and completed his LLB from Raichur, Karnataka.
He joined the naxals while doing his post graduation at OU.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Maoists alert for polls in Andhra
By U Sudhakar Reddy The police hasspotted Maoists roaming in the forest zones adjoining Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. The presence of Maoists has worried the police enough to ask the Election Commission if polling could be completed by 3 pm in affected areas.
Superintendents of police of naxal-affected districts told the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr N.Gopalaswami, at a review meeting that the Maoists influx into the state was alarming.
A military platoon of 30 armed Maoists from both AP and Chhattisgarh, lead by divisional secretary Vepa Narayana alias Haribhushan, is operating in the Karimnagar-KhammamWarangal belt.
Three platoons from Chhattisgarh and Orissa are moving in Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts on the Andhra Orissa border.
Their aim is to disrupt the election process, the officials told Mr Gopalaswami “Like in Chhattisgarh if polling is closed in the remote areas by 3 pm, EVMs can be shifted to the road point before dusk,” an official said.
Mr Gopalaswami assured the SPs that he would examine their request to close the polls in remote naxal affected areas by 3 pm.
The EC said it would clarify to the forest department that all its territorial staff except key staff of the wildlife wing would be placed on election duty.
A senior police official said, “The forest department ground staff know the topography of remote areas so their services will be utilised.” They were refusing to take on poll duties by brandishing an EC circular giving them exemption. The EC has clarified that the forest department territorial staff can also be utilised on poll duties.
The Karimnagar superintendent of police, Mr Vikram Singh Mann, told the Election Commission that the regular movements of Maoist are spotted in the district. One of three platoons operating in AOB are lead by Ravi alias Kudumula Venkat Rao and other by Jagadish police sources said.
Gadhchiroli, the district in Maharashtra across the border with Adilabad, has 246 active cadres of Maoists.
Police suspect that there will be influx of these cadres into the state.
Officials said water level in the Godavari had fallen to knee depth and it has become easy for naxals to cross over into the state from Maharasthra and Chhattisgarh.
In Vizainagaram and Srikakulam though there is military platoon movements two local areas committees are active police said.
Koraput area committee lead by Daya and Nagavali Area committee lead by Suresh alias Narayana Rao are moving in the areas to create trouble.
“They have plans to carry out attacks in pre poll season to terrorise politicians on campaign,” said an official. Maoist action teams are also prowl police officials from other districts told the EC.
Superintendents of police of naxal-affected districts told the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr N.Gopalaswami, at a review meeting that the Maoists influx into the state was alarming.
A military platoon of 30 armed Maoists from both AP and Chhattisgarh, lead by divisional secretary Vepa Narayana alias Haribhushan, is operating in the Karimnagar-KhammamWarangal belt.
Three platoons from Chhattisgarh and Orissa are moving in Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts on the Andhra Orissa border.
Their aim is to disrupt the election process, the officials told Mr Gopalaswami “Like in Chhattisgarh if polling is closed in the remote areas by 3 pm, EVMs can be shifted to the road point before dusk,” an official said.
Mr Gopalaswami assured the SPs that he would examine their request to close the polls in remote naxal affected areas by 3 pm.
The EC said it would clarify to the forest department that all its territorial staff except key staff of the wildlife wing would be placed on election duty.
A senior police official said, “The forest department ground staff know the topography of remote areas so their services will be utilised.” They were refusing to take on poll duties by brandishing an EC circular giving them exemption. The EC has clarified that the forest department territorial staff can also be utilised on poll duties.
The Karimnagar superintendent of police, Mr Vikram Singh Mann, told the Election Commission that the regular movements of Maoist are spotted in the district. One of three platoons operating in AOB are lead by Ravi alias Kudumula Venkat Rao and other by Jagadish police sources said.
Gadhchiroli, the district in Maharashtra across the border with Adilabad, has 246 active cadres of Maoists.
Police suspect that there will be influx of these cadres into the state.
Officials said water level in the Godavari had fallen to knee depth and it has become easy for naxals to cross over into the state from Maharasthra and Chhattisgarh.
In Vizainagaram and Srikakulam though there is military platoon movements two local areas committees are active police said.
Koraput area committee lead by Daya and Nagavali Area committee lead by Suresh alias Narayana Rao are moving in the areas to create trouble.
“They have plans to carry out attacks in pre poll season to terrorise politicians on campaign,” said an official. Maoist action teams are also prowl police officials from other districts told the EC.
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Maoists dream government: Women's Utopia
By U Sudhakar Reddy Documents seized by intelligence sleuths reveal that Maoists are aiming to convert areas under their control into a women’s utopia of sorts.
According to the Maoists, their ‘government’ will set up laundries, crèches and kitchens for the public to liberate women from the chains of domestic toil and to ensure their participation in social production.
The left wing extremists have also decided to rehabilitate sex workers and ensure them social respect.
Some of these concepts have already been implemented in the Dandakaranya forests of Chhattisgarh where the Maoists are running a parallel government.
“The Maoist government will put end to discrimination against women and will strive to end male domination and patriarchy,” says the document.
“It is an idealistic society according to the documents,” said a police officer involved in antiMaoist operations.
“They have been implementing prohibition and social farming in villages they control.” Maoists are also aiming to confiscate banks, business enterprises and companies of “imperialist capital”. They will confiscate land belonging to landlords and religious institutions and redistribute it among the landless poor.
Maoists term their promised land “Voluntary Union of Peoples Democratic Federal Republics of India”.
In the 'voluntary Union of Peoples Democratic Federal Republics of India' of Maoists the marriages shall be on the basis of mutual love and agreement. The age limit for marriage would be 20 years and all child marriages are banned.
"Widow marriages will be encouraged and women shall have a right to abortion. Divorces are granted if both husband and wife wish and if only one them asks for the Maoist state makes investigation and announce the decision, In cases of children men must take two third parts and women one third part of the responsibility. It is the responsibility of men to repay the loans after marriage," says the document.
Peoples governments are formed at district and village levels.
Maoist have also decided to set up museums with the belongings of the martyrs and special care to be taken to the families of those who laid down their lives in red revolution. The documents also speak about the election and structure of the government.
According to the Maoists, their ‘government’ will set up laundries, crèches and kitchens for the public to liberate women from the chains of domestic toil and to ensure their participation in social production.
The left wing extremists have also decided to rehabilitate sex workers and ensure them social respect.
Some of these concepts have already been implemented in the Dandakaranya forests of Chhattisgarh where the Maoists are running a parallel government.
“The Maoist government will put end to discrimination against women and will strive to end male domination and patriarchy,” says the document.
“It is an idealistic society according to the documents,” said a police officer involved in antiMaoist operations.
“They have been implementing prohibition and social farming in villages they control.” Maoists are also aiming to confiscate banks, business enterprises and companies of “imperialist capital”. They will confiscate land belonging to landlords and religious institutions and redistribute it among the landless poor.
Maoists term their promised land “Voluntary Union of Peoples Democratic Federal Republics of India”.
In the 'voluntary Union of Peoples Democratic Federal Republics of India' of Maoists the marriages shall be on the basis of mutual love and agreement. The age limit for marriage would be 20 years and all child marriages are banned.
"Widow marriages will be encouraged and women shall have a right to abortion. Divorces are granted if both husband and wife wish and if only one them asks for the Maoist state makes investigation and announce the decision, In cases of children men must take two third parts and women one third part of the responsibility. It is the responsibility of men to repay the loans after marriage," says the document.
Peoples governments are formed at district and village levels.
Maoist have also decided to set up museums with the belongings of the martyrs and special care to be taken to the families of those who laid down their lives in red revolution. The documents also speak about the election and structure of the government.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Maoist attack: Watery Grave for Greyhounds
Autopsy report says only five died of bulletsBy U Sudhakar Reddy
Only five out of 24 Greyhound personnel died of bullet injuries sustained during last Sunday’s attack by Maoists at the Balimela reservoir in Orissa, according to autopsy reports.
The other 19 personnel drowned in water. Forensic doctors found that these bodies had water-logged lungs. There were no bullet injuries on their bodies.
Post-mortem tests are still to be done on the bodies 13 other Greyhounds killed in the attack.
An Intelligence official said that the personnel drowned either because they did not know to swim or because they were trapped in the launch which sank within minutes.
The senior forensic medicine expert, Dr K Narayana Reddy, said, “They may have been trapped in the cabin while taking cover. It takes two to four minutes for death by drowning to occur.” The government meanwhile has still not appointed an inquiry into the inci dent. The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, had last Monday announced that a probe will be conducted by a senior police officer.
The Special Intelligence Branch and the state police headquarters in their internal inquiries have found “negligence” of the illfated Greyhounds party and “lack of communication” between Vizag district police officials and the state police.
Information about the Greyhounds operation was not communicated to the top officials both at Visakhapatnam and at the state police headquarters.
“The enquiry will basically look into whether the Greyhounds group commandant, Mr Vineet Brijlal, and the Vishakapatnam SP, Mr Akun Sabharwal, passed on information about the Greyhounds operation to senior officials.” “The Chief Minister is away in the Maldives. The inquiry may be appointed after he returns,” an Intelligence official told this correspondent
The other 19 personnel drowned in water. Forensic doctors found that these bodies had water-logged lungs. There were no bullet injuries on their bodies.
Post-mortem tests are still to be done on the bodies 13 other Greyhounds killed in the attack.
An Intelligence official said that the personnel drowned either because they did not know to swim or because they were trapped in the launch which sank within minutes.
The senior forensic medicine expert, Dr K Narayana Reddy, said, “They may have been trapped in the cabin while taking cover. It takes two to four minutes for death by drowning to occur.” The government meanwhile has still not appointed an inquiry into the inci dent. The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, had last Monday announced that a probe will be conducted by a senior police officer.
The Special Intelligence Branch and the state police headquarters in their internal inquiries have found “negligence” of the illfated Greyhounds party and “lack of communication” between Vizag district police officials and the state police.
Information about the Greyhounds operation was not communicated to the top officials both at Visakhapatnam and at the state police headquarters.
“The enquiry will basically look into whether the Greyhounds group commandant, Mr Vineet Brijlal, and the Vishakapatnam SP, Mr Akun Sabharwal, passed on information about the Greyhounds operation to senior officials.” “The Chief Minister is away in the Maldives. The inquiry may be appointed after he returns,” an Intelligence official told this correspondent
Maoist Liberation Zone in Chattisgarh-Orissa-AOB
By U Sudhakar ReddyMaoists have formed a liberation corridor from Dandakaranya in Chhattisgarh to Orissa via the border with Andhra Pradesh.
Intelligence sources said the Balimela reservoir attack on Greyhounds by the Andhra-Orissa border military company of CPI(Maoist) could be seen as an attempt to indicate their control over this corridor.
Sources added Maoists may step up their activities in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam rural and East Godavari to further fortify the liberation corridor. Maoists had earlier mooted an audacious plan to form a red corridor from Pasupati in Nepal to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.
However, the idea was temporarily shelved after they were beaten back in Nallamala, North Telangana and other parts of the state.
“The decision to form the liberation corridor was taken in the national meet of the Maoists,” said a senior officer. “They want to strengthen it and then restart efforts on red corridor.” Nuapada in Orissa holds the key to the development of the corridor since the dense forest and hilly terrain is conducive for safe movement of the left wing extremists. Police said 100 Maoists had been drawn from Chhattisgarh, 100 from AP and a few from Orissa to set up two companies to operate in the AndhraOrissa border.
One of these AOB companies had ambushed and attacked the Greyhounds who were returning from a combing operation last week. The AOB consists of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Gajapati in Orissa and Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari of Andhra Pradesh.
Maoists have got control over many areas in Chhattisgarh and Orissa. “This is known as the guerrilla zone and is under the control of Maoists,” said a police officer. “They already have a strong base in Gajapati and Rayagada districts and have taken control of key areas of Southwestern Orissa.” The corridor along Ganjam-Kandhamal-Boudh-Sambalpur will give them the much-needed passage between their bastions in Chhattisgarh and Andhra, he added. But police does not have a ‘corridor’ of its own.
More than 1,200 km of the proposed 1,729 km road from Vijayawada to Ranchi in Jharkhand passes through 12 Naxalite-infested districts of Orissa along which the Maoists are planning to extend their corridor.
However, AP cops said the liberation corridor does not pose a major threat to the state, as long as vigil is maintained at districts adjacent to Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Intelligence sources said the Balimela reservoir attack on Greyhounds by the Andhra-Orissa border military company of CPI(Maoist) could be seen as an attempt to indicate their control over this corridor.
Sources added Maoists may step up their activities in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam rural and East Godavari to further fortify the liberation corridor. Maoists had earlier mooted an audacious plan to form a red corridor from Pasupati in Nepal to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.
However, the idea was temporarily shelved after they were beaten back in Nallamala, North Telangana and other parts of the state.
“The decision to form the liberation corridor was taken in the national meet of the Maoists,” said a senior officer. “They want to strengthen it and then restart efforts on red corridor.” Nuapada in Orissa holds the key to the development of the corridor since the dense forest and hilly terrain is conducive for safe movement of the left wing extremists. Police said 100 Maoists had been drawn from Chhattisgarh, 100 from AP and a few from Orissa to set up two companies to operate in the AndhraOrissa border.
One of these AOB companies had ambushed and attacked the Greyhounds who were returning from a combing operation last week. The AOB consists of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Gajapati in Orissa and Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari of Andhra Pradesh.
Maoists have got control over many areas in Chhattisgarh and Orissa. “This is known as the guerrilla zone and is under the control of Maoists,” said a police officer. “They already have a strong base in Gajapati and Rayagada districts and have taken control of key areas of Southwestern Orissa.” The corridor along Ganjam-Kandhamal-Boudh-Sambalpur will give them the much-needed passage between their bastions in Chhattisgarh and Andhra, he added. But police does not have a ‘corridor’ of its own.
More than 1,200 km of the proposed 1,729 km road from Vijayawada to Ranchi in Jharkhand passes through 12 Naxalite-infested districts of Orissa along which the Maoists are planning to extend their corridor.
However, AP cops said the liberation corridor does not pose a major threat to the state, as long as vigil is maintained at districts adjacent to Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Friday, 22 February 2008
Central Military Commission Planned Orissa Attack
By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
Hyderabad, Feb 20 2008
AP leaders in the Maoists' central military commission planned the bloody attacks in Nayagarh town in Orissa on February 15. Maoists killed 13 policemen and looted about 1,200 weapons.
Police suspects that M. Balakrishna, Andhra-Orissa border (AOB) special zonal committee secretary, played a key role in the execution of the CMC's decision to attack the town.
A senior police official said, "We strongly suspect the involvement of central military commission members T. Keshava Rao and Tirupati who come from AP."
Officials said that the prime motive behind the attack by the Maoists was to loot sophisticated weapons like AK-47, the Insas automatic rifles and self loading rifles.
AP Maoists have previously carried out similar attacks at Koraput in February 2004 and at R. Uadayagiri in March 2006.
In Chhattisgarh, the Dandakaranya special zonal committee secretary G. Ashok alias Kosa alias Satyanarayana Reddy is suspected to be behind the recent attacks.
"AP Maoists are experts in planning and executing such massive attacks. Local tribals are used as support troops and human shields," said an intelligence official.
The state police anticipates trouble in North Telangana, Khammam and the AOB zone.
The AOB consists of the districts of Malkangir, Koraput, Rayagad and Gajapati in Orissa and Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari of Andhra Pradesh.
A senior official of the anti-naxalite agency observed, "it is a threat to the state. They may now look towards Andhra Pradesh again."
AP leaders in the Maoists' cen- tral military commission planned the bloody attacks in Nayagarh town in Orissa on February 15. Maoists killed 13 policemen and looted about 1,200 weapons. Police suspects that M. Balakrishna, Andhra-Orissa border (AOB) special zonal committee secretary, played a key role in the execution of the CMC's decision to attack the town. A senior police official said, "We strongly suspect the involvement of central military commission mem- bers T. Keshava Rao and Tirupati who come from AP." Officials said that the prime motive behind the attack by the Maoists was to loot sophisticated weapons like AK-47, the Insas auto- matic rifles and self loading rifles. AP Maoists have previ- ously carried out similar attacks at Koraput in Febru- ary 2004 and at R. Uadaya- giri in March 2006. In Chhattisgarh, the Dan- dakaranya special zonal committee secretary G. Ashok alias Kosa alias Satyanarayana Reddy is suspected to be behind the recent attacks. "AP Maoists are experts in planning and executing such massive attacks. Local tribals are used as support troops and human shields," said an intelligence official. The state police antici- pates trouble in North Telangana, Khammam and the AOB zone. The AOB consists of the districts of Malkangir, Koraput, Rayagad and Gajapati in Orissa and Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari of Andhra Pradesh. A senior official of the anti-naxalite agency observed, "it is a threat to the state. They may now look towards Andhra Pradesh again."
AP leaders in the Maoists' central military commission planned the bloody attacks in Nayagarh town in Orissa on February 15. Maoists killed 13 policemen and looted about 1,200 weapons.
Police suspects that M. Balakrishna, Andhra-Orissa border (AOB) special zonal committee secretary, played a key role in the execution of the CMC's decision to attack the town.
A senior police official said, "We strongly suspect the involvement of central military commission members T. Keshava Rao and Tirupati who come from AP."
Officials said that the prime motive behind the attack by the Maoists was to loot sophisticated weapons like AK-47, the Insas automatic rifles and self loading rifles.
AP Maoists have previously carried out similar attacks at Koraput in February 2004 and at R. Uadayagiri in March 2006.
In Chhattisgarh, the Dandakaranya special zonal committee secretary G. Ashok alias Kosa alias Satyanarayana Reddy is suspected to be behind the recent attacks.
"AP Maoists are experts in planning and executing such massive attacks. Local tribals are used as support troops and human shields," said an intelligence official.
The state police anticipates trouble in North Telangana, Khammam and the AOB zone.
The AOB consists of the districts of Malkangir, Koraput, Rayagad and Gajapati in Orissa and Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari of Andhra Pradesh.
A senior official of the anti-naxalite agency observed, "it is a threat to the state. They may now look towards Andhra Pradesh again."
AP leaders in the Maoists' cen- tral military commission planned the bloody attacks in Nayagarh town in Orissa on February 15. Maoists killed 13 policemen and looted about 1,200 weapons. Police suspects that M. Balakrishna, Andhra-Orissa border (AOB) special zonal committee secretary, played a key role in the execution of the CMC's decision to attack the town. A senior police official said, "We strongly suspect the involvement of central military commission mem- bers T. Keshava Rao and Tirupati who come from AP." Officials said that the prime motive behind the attack by the Maoists was to loot sophisticated weapons like AK-47, the Insas auto- matic rifles and self loading rifles. AP Maoists have previ- ously carried out similar attacks at Koraput in Febru- ary 2004 and at R. Uadaya- giri in March 2006. In Chhattisgarh, the Dan- dakaranya special zonal committee secretary G. Ashok alias Kosa alias Satyanarayana Reddy is suspected to be behind the recent attacks. "AP Maoists are experts in planning and executing such massive attacks. Local tribals are used as support troops and human shields," said an intelligence official. The state police antici- pates trouble in North Telangana, Khammam and the AOB zone. The AOB consists of the districts of Malkangir, Koraput, Rayagad and Gajapati in Orissa and Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari of Andhra Pradesh. A senior official of the anti-naxalite agency observed, "it is a threat to the state. They may now look towards Andhra Pradesh again."
Monday, 28 January 2008
Maoists return to former fortress
By U Sudhakar Reddy
Hyderabad : Maoists have begun to regroup in North Telangana with the cadres including North Telangana zonal committee member Ganesh returning from Chhattisgarh. They have begun targeting the police information network mostly comprising former Naxals. Saturday’s attack in Karimnagar in which three alleged police informers were killed is a part of this operation.
The killings came not long after the police in Chhattisgarh cautioned that Andhra Pradesh’s success against the Maoists may be temporary. A senior police official told this correspondent: "There are 69 underground cadre in Karimnagar. All of them had dispersed and are working in other states."
"Six Maoists were here (in the district). For Saturday’s attack Maoists regrouped under the leadership of Ganesh," he said. After severe setbacks in their erstwhile strongholds, the Maoists clubbed all the committees to form the Karimnagar-Warangal-Khammam district committee. Ganesh is the secretary of this committee. Committee member Damodar alias B. Chokka Rao, Arunakka of the Mahadevpur local squad and 18 others were involved in the Karimnagar attack.
This is the largest congregation of Maoists in North Telangana after the reduction of violence in the past two years. "This is an alarming attack. It is a wake-up call," said a police official.
Hyderabad : Maoists have begun to regroup in North Telangana with the cadres including North Telangana zonal committee member Ganesh returning from Chhattisgarh. They have begun targeting the police information network mostly comprising former Naxals. Saturday’s attack in Karimnagar in which three alleged police informers were killed is a part of this operation.
The killings came not long after the police in Chhattisgarh cautioned that Andhra Pradesh’s success against the Maoists may be temporary. A senior police official told this correspondent: "There are 69 underground cadre in Karimnagar. All of them had dispersed and are working in other states."
"Six Maoists were here (in the district). For Saturday’s attack Maoists regrouped under the leadership of Ganesh," he said. After severe setbacks in their erstwhile strongholds, the Maoists clubbed all the committees to form the Karimnagar-Warangal-Khammam district committee. Ganesh is the secretary of this committee. Committee member Damodar alias B. Chokka Rao, Arunakka of the Mahadevpur local squad and 18 others were involved in the Karimnagar attack.
This is the largest congregation of Maoists in North Telangana after the reduction of violence in the past two years. "This is an alarming attack. It is a wake-up call," said a police official.
(Published in Deccan Chronicle on January 28 2008)
Monday, 21 January 2008
AP 'Cobras' go in Bihar way
By Venkat Parsa in New Delhi and U. Sudhakar Reddy in Hyderabad
Sept. 13: CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury on Monday expressed concern that Andhra Pradesh is going the Bihar way with the emergence of caste-based private armies like Nallamalla Cobra (Nallatrachu). Mr Yechury said that in the north private armies are used primarily to oppress the weaker sections. The police and the administration do not help the private armies’ victims as they lack clout.Most problems are rooted in backwardness and greater development is the answer, Mr Yechury said. In a sense, even the demand for a separate Telangana emerges from backwardness, he said.
The CPI(M) opposes statehood for Telangana. For tackling backwardness, he said, the government should formulate a well-funded specific development plan. Land and land rights are at the core of the problem, Mr Yechury said, adding that violence breaks out when these rights are diluted. The state government should address these issues in right earnest; if timely measures are not initiated, the situation could soon worsen, he said.
If such caste-based private armies are allowed to survive, a majority of attacks would be directed against dalits and the landless poor. Most of the private armies would be operated by rich, upper-caste people. For them, the weaker sections are the target, he said, adding that in addition to organised massacres, private armies use dehumanising programmes to insult the weaker sections.Private armies take the guise of anti-Maoist groups and spring up after a major attack by extremists.
Fear Vikas, Green Tigers, Nalladandu, Red Tigers, Tirumala Tigers, Palnadu Tigers, Kakatiya Cobras, Narsa Cobras, Nallamalla Nallatrachu (Cobras) and Kranthi Sena are some of the gangs. The gangs have fiery logos featuring cobras, tigers and guns. Narsa Cobras was formed after the Maoists shot Maktal Congress legislator Narsi Reddy in Mahbubnagar district on August 15. Narsa Cobras has already killed Kanakachari, a backward castes person, for allegedly being an alleged Maoist sympathiser.Tirumala Tigers was formed after the attack on then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on October 2003 at Alipiri, at the Tirumala foothills. Among the oldest is Green Tigers, formed in the then Naxal base of North Telangana in 1994. The Maoists have since set up base in the Nallamala forests bordering four districts in central Andhra. Among these, the Nallatrachus are said to targetdalits.
The group takes its name from the deadly cobras of the Nallamala forests. On Sunday, this group threatened balladeer Gaddar with death.It has claimed responsibility for the September 10 killing of M. Prasad of Kula Nirmulana Porata Samithi (samithi for eradicating caste). Prasad, who belonged to the scheduled castes, was killed the day KNPS state president Duddu Prabkahar was released on bail.The Nallamala Nallatrachu has threatened to kill residents in a dalit colony in Prakasam district, a report from Ongole said. The police has launched a search for Nallatrachu activists in the area. The scare began after unidentified persons wearing masks went around houses at night, questioning residents.Nallatrachu leader Neelakantu warned Gaddar: "Your brothers Vara Vara Rao and Kalyan Rao are in jail. You are still talking for the Maoists. Stop that or face the consequences."Gaddar told this correspondent, "These gangs are sponsored by the government to curb revolution and people’s democratic movements. I have asked the government to provide me with a licence so that I can get a gun to protect myself. They refused." Two personal security officers were posted for the security of Gaddar.
Gaddar escaped an attack in April 1997. "Green Tigers have already pumped bullets into my spine. Now this is the latest threat." he said. "Let them threaten me, I will not leave this path. I will sing for the people till my last breath. They can’t jail my songs, they can’t shoot my songs, they can’t kill my songs."Director-general of police Swaranjit Sen denied that the police was backing these gangs. "Where is the need? The police is doing everything as per the law to tackle the Maoist menace. The police is not supporting them." Mr Sen added, "The police will investigate (the killings) impartially. I feel that this is a natural reaction against the atrocities of the Maoists."Mr Sen stoutly denied the caste angle. He said "We have no information that the Cobra gangs are caste-based. They are reactionary forces to the Maoists. Their victims are not too many. Only two cases were reported, and these depended on the local situation. Based on two incidents how can we say that the victims or the accused belong to specific caste groups."Former naxalite Nayeemuddin, alias Nayeem, is suspected to be behind some of the killings. Nayeem is said to be associated with the Nalladandu gang.
"The gangs are formed by former naxals, relatives of the victims of naxals, extreme elements. The gangs earlier killed human rights activists Azam Ali and Purushottam. We suspect that these gangs have cyanide weapons that can kill easily," said a senior police official.Some former naxals are fielding their associates in the forthcoming municipal elections. It is alleged that Syed Asgar, an associate of Nayeem, was unanimously elected because no one dared contest against him in a municipal ward in Bhongir town, about 50 km from Hyderabad. He secured a Congress ticket.
(Published in Deccan Chronicle and Asian Age)
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