Revival bid by Maoists?

Tadwai/Warangal: Maoists in Warangal district though considered latent seems to be capable of proving their existence, albeit occasionally, if burning of government property at Tadwai in the district on Saturday is any indication.

Incidentally, it is the first incident, post Telangana formation, where government vehicle was damaged in the name of Maoists in the district though leaving letters in the name of Maoist Khammam-Karimnagar-Warangal zone secretary Damodar has taken place quite often.

Since the formation of Telangana, Maoists, whom the police claim to have contained fully in Warangal, are making desperate attempts to surface here. So far, such efforts are limited to displaying letters and banners at remote places with warnings to local leaders and condemning government policies.

The police though remain non-committal about Maoist presence here are serious about damaging of the government property. In the past an incident of damaging property was recorded on September 13, 2015 at Mallampelli of Mulug mandal. Naxals then burnt an earth mover belonging to a contractor K Srinivas Reddy at a red-soil quarry.

Since 2014, there have been several incidents of appearance of Maoist posters and letters here. Mohammed Ghousepally in Mulug mandal during People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Week, KU campus, Velishala and Chityal villagees in July, BILT factory at Kamalapur in Mangapet mandal in October and Bachhannapet mandal headquarter in December 2015 witnessed such incidents despite high alert by the police in Naxal-affected villages.

In the process of proving their existence, Maoists are relying on Guttikoya tribals who migrated into the district from Chhattisgarh and raised habitations in reserve forests spread in Eturunagaram, Tadwai and Mangapet mandals.

The issues raised by KKW secretary Damodar in the letter left at Tadwai forest complex is also related to Guttikoyas, who are engaged in a continuous tussle with forest officials over ‘Podu lands’.

According to police sources, after Telangana formation as many as 36 persons from across Telangana joined Maoists and there are considerable numbers of persons from Warangal. Maoists Shruthi and Vidyasagar Reddy went underground 11 months before their encounter in September 2015.

Similarly, Naxal activists Navatha and Anitha, killed in an encounter on Telangana and Chhattisgarh border on March 1, 2015, also joined the party just before their encounter. Puttapaka Kumaraswamy and his wife Sindri Lingo killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh on January 28 this year belong to Bhanjipet in Narasampet mandal in the district.

As recently as in September 2015, three members of the Maoist KKW action team, Kovvangi Ganga, Pujari Kishtaiah and Vetti Bheemalu arrested by sthe police in the forests of Eturnagaram mandal following an encounter in the same month in Tadwai forests.

“These things indicate that the Maoists are still able to attract the youth to join them,” said a senior police official who does not want to be quoted. “Maoists are making efforts to gain ground in Warangal again, yet the police are equally serious to stop them,” he added.

Referring to the Tadwai forest complex incident, rural SP Ambar Kishor Jha told The Hans India that it might not be the act of Maoists. “We are suspecting the role of disgruntled elements in damaging of the property and we are verifying facts and authenticity of the letter left at the spot.”

Meanwhile, Mulug ASP Vishwajit Kampati said, “There is no movement of Maoists in Warangal forests. Yet we have launched a probe into the incident.”