KHAMMAM: Maoists are trying to regain lost ground in the State, according to informed sources in the Police department.
Speaking to Express, a senior police officer said the Maoists were infiltrating into the State in the guise of Gottikoyas. They are also propagating their ideology besides embarking upon a massive recruitment activity in the State.
Maoists had lost their presence almost completely in Warangal and Karimnagar districts while managing to maintain a small number of its cadre in Khammam district thanks to its proximity to Chhattisgarh and backward Orissa, where the the Naxal movement is strong.
The recent bank heist in the Satyanarayanapuram village of Cherla mandal in Khammam district has given credence to the version of the top brass in the Police depatment that Maoists have started gaining foothold in the district.
Recently, a strike call given by the Maoists met with some success in spite of the heavy presence of CRPF and the State police personnel.
This goes to prove that Maoists are emerging strong both in terms of strategies and making their presence felt.
The official said that Salwa Judum was formed in 2005 in Chattisgarh and it was the Gottikoyas are bearing the brunt of its activities so much so that they have started moving into Andhra Pradesh. No wonder the Gottikoyas are seeking to avenge the Salwa Judum acts with the help of Maoists.
‘’This has made them loyal to Maoists. Now, along with the many Gottikoya families who have been crossing the borders into the State, the Maoists are sending in some of their men,’’ he said.
He further said the Maoist infiltrators, of late, started putting up posters calling upon the people to boycott elections or asking them to respond to strike calls.
‘’We are getting regular inputs and warnings from the Intelligence department and have even arrested around 20 Maoist infiltrators from the Gottikoya thandas in the last few months,’’ the police officer said.
satyanarayanareddy@epmltd.com