‘Maoists losing tribals’ support’

Visakhapatnam: Maoists have lost the support of tribals as they were obstructing the development works in the Agency and killing
innocent tribals branding them as police informers, observed Chintapalli DSP R Raghavendra.

In an informal chat with media persons here on Saturday, Raghavendra said that many heart-rending stories are coming to light while
police interacting with youth during their visit to tribal hamlets. Youth lamented that Maoists killed at least one head of the family in each
tribal hamlet branding them as police informers. Maoists are obstructing the development works and torching public and private vehicles
and assets, he alleged.

The DSP said that the tribal youth are demanding development of Agency areas while Maoists, who were not able to digest the youths’
aspirations, are killing them branding them as police informers.

The youth, who pinned hopes to secure good employment after acquiring professional and technical qualifications to lead a good life in
the society, are questioning Maoists what they have done to the poor tribals in the last three decades. Quoting some recent examples
how the villagers retaliated Maoists, the DSP said the irate Veeravaram villagers of Chintapalli mandal chased and killed Maoists Sarath
and Palasa Ganapathi who had killed one Gemmali Sanjeeva Rao of Veeravaram village earlier.

Similarly, Sagulu villagers of G K Veeedhi mandal, too, chased the Maoists for having killed three poor villagers in Sagulu branding
them as police informers. Thus, Maoists have not only lost their base, but also support of the tribals, he added. Assuring help from the
police, the DSP appealed to the tribal youth not to spoil their future by falling prey to the Maoists. He also appealed to the intellectuals,
student community and village elders to condemn the violent ideology of Maoists which obstructs the development in the Agency.