Maoists return to Adilabad; security forces put on high alert

An armed dalam or squad of the Communist Party of India (Maoists) is believed to have arrived in the erstwhile Adilabad district. Taking advantage of the sweeping and thick cover provided in monsoon by the rejuvenated forests, the extremists are able to move from village to village, especially in the central uplands, apparently offering 'jobs' to youngsters in their outfit.

Police of Adilabad, Nirmal, and Kumram Bheem Asifabad districts have sounded an alarm issuing appeals to youth and others, in particular Adivasis, to steer clear of any such offers or get attracted to the Maoist way of life. It only brings hardships by way of legal cases and resultant stringent punishment, the youth were warned.

So far there have been no reports of anyone joining the underground organization from the three districts. It may be recalled that two freshly recruited Maoists, one of them from Gadchiroli, were allegedly killed in an exchange of fire with policemen in Kadamba forests in KB Asifabad district.

The police have stepped up combing operations in search of the armed dalam besides addressing village folk driving home the point that the government offers them opportunities and a better life through its several welfare programmes. The villagers are also being told to report the movement of any unknown persons who could be anti-social elements.

Nirmal Superintendent of Police Ch. Praveen Kumar revealed that members of the small armed squad are moving in civilian clothes instead of military uniforms. This makes identification difficult and therefore cautions villagers.

On August 30, the SP led an area domination exercise while visiting villages in Gandigopalpur, Gandi Gudem, Kattakindi Gudem, Midde Chintala in Kadem Mandal, and the forest of Udumpur. These villages fall within the 'corridor' which is known for the movement of the extremists whenever they are here.

Though the exact number of the members of the dalam is yet to be ascertained, the police say the number could be between 10 and 15. The police have released details of rewards carried by some of the senior cadres and leaders of the outlawed organization who are assumed to be active in these parts.

The prominent among those who carry rewards are Bandi Prakash alias Prabhakar, Maoist Divisional Committee Secretary (DCS), Mylarapu Adellu alias Bhaskar, DC Member, and Kanthi Lingavva alias Anitha, Area Committee member.

Nirmal district police have also released a poster of some of the Action Team members of Maoists and the rewards they carry on their heads in order to alert the common people. They are Podiyam Pandu alias Mangulu, Kunam Munish, Chennuri Seenu alias Harish, Kovvasi Ramu, Roshan and Nandu alias Vikas.

"What is perplexing is the fact that the Maoists choose to return every monsoon despite knowing the fact that odds are loaded heavily against them. Survival even in the villages that have traditionally sympathetic to their cause is too difficult given the sharp changes in the ethos," wondered a senior police officer on conditions of anonymity.

It is generally assumed that after the appointment of Nambala Kishan Rao alias Basavaraj as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist), there has been a change in the strategy of the organization. The new chief has reconstituted State Committees including that of Telangana giving the latter a mandate to make the party socially relevant in rural areas by being in 'touch' with villagers.

The Telangana police obviously do not want to leave anything to chance and have plans for cornering the Naxalites. Sources said it was expected that DGP M. Mahender Reddy himself could camp at some place in one of the three districts for a few days to oversee anti-naxal operations.

He had once before done so in September 2020 when he had stayed at KB Asifabad district headquarters for five days. That monsoon, the State police had deployed no less than 500 policemen to track down the outlaws who were moving in the area.