The district police have intensified combing operations in the forest fringe areas along the inter-district borders with Mulugu and other neighbouring districts following “credible inputs” about the movement of a group of Maoists comprising several action team members in the erstwhile strongholds of the rebels.
Heavy contingents of police were deployed in the remote areas of Pinapaka and Yellandu constituencies based on specific inputs of several Chhattisgarh-based Maoists crossing over the Godavari and spanning into the riverside areas in the tribal heartland of Telangana with multiple tasks, including gaining a foothold in the former Naxal bastions, sources said.
The police machinery has been kept on a state of high alert in the Agency areas adjoining the inter-district borders following the Maoists’ alleged threat to some politicians, who are on their “hit list”, and also the rebels’ attempts to revive their activities in Telangana’s tribal heartland.
Multi-pronged approach
The district police have mounted a vigorous anti-Maoist strategy on multiple fronts, including operational and propaganda, to counter the rebels’ apparent move to penetrate into the interior areas of the tribal dominated district by taking up the issues of Adivasis.
As part of this strategy, the police have released posters carrying pictures of several wanted Maoists in the far-flung areas of Pinapaka constituency. The cops have announced a “prize money” of ₹ 5 lakh to those who furnish information about the “wanted rebels” to the police, sources added.
Specific inputs
Intensive combing and cordon and search operations are underway in remote areas of Allapalli, Gundala, Karakagudem and Pinapaka mandals to track the movement of Maoists in the forest fringe areas, said Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt.
“We have received specific inputs that the rebels were trying to incite people inhabiting the Agency areas over “podu land” issues and foment trouble in the forest fringe areas,” he said, adding that posters of the “wanted Maoists” were released to nab them.