40 arrested across AP

Rajamahendravaram:In a massive crackdown following the encounter that killed top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, over 40 Maoists, including nine Central Committee members, have been arrested across the state. Speaking to the media, Intelligence Addl DGP Mahesh Chandra Laddha along with Alluri Sitharama Raju district SP Amit Bardar in Rampachodavaram on Tuesday, Laddha said that police had arrested a total of over 40 Maoists across Vijayawada, Kakinada, and Eluru on Tuesday. 

Acting on crucial evidence gathered after the Hidma encounter and based on information from his diary, police launched simultaneous searches in multiple districts Police, Greyhounds teams under the leadership of respective district SPs carried out the searches.

In Vijayawada, the security forces conducted raids at new Autonagar in Kanuru on the outskirts of Vijayawada, leading to the arrest of 27 Maoists, all reportedly from Chhattisgarh. Among the arrested, 12 are women. Several militia members are also believed to be in the group which moved into a building about ten days ago. They posed as construction workers and took the building on rent.

Krishna district SP V Vidyasagar Naidu confirmed that the arrests resulted from a coordinated intelligence-driven operation across five districts. “We received accurate information that Maoists had taken shelter in Kanuru. All of them have been taken into custody. Most are from Chhattisgarh,” he said. He added that those arrested are linked to the team of Maoist Central Committee Secretary Thippiri Tirupati. “Further details will be revealed tomorrow,” he said.