Reports suggest that Maoist leaders are aiming to regain their control over the state of Andhra Pradesh, and are now choosing thickly populated areas to store their ammunition and as places of hide-out.
A recent encounter in the West Godavari district last month had killed the top 2 leaders in the region, Shakamuri Appa Rao and Kondal Reddy. Later, in the unearthing of an arms dump, police had recovered 1,600 grenade shells which were used by the Maoist rebels as arms. Plastic chambers, springs, rings, safety pins, hammers, live ammunition and 6 rocket launchers were also found. It is reported that this material was enough to make 3000 grenades.
Kondal Reddy, one of the slain Maoist leader, operated from Paidiparru village in Tanuku where he rented a room as a scrap dealer and remained anonymous to the locals. Upon further investigation, it was found that both leaders had visited the Nallamalla forest (the earliest home-ground of Naxalism in AP) in a bid to revive activities there.
According to the Director General Of Police (DGP) R R Girish Kumar, Maoist action teams are roaming in the state trying to re-build the organisation. Intelligence inputs further suggest that following the
Dantewada incident, the Maoists might try to sneak into the Andhra-Orissa border (AOB) for safety. This has caused worry among the Andhra Pradesh police, who are upping their vigilance across the state boundaries of Orissa & Chattisgarh.
The Andhra police have requested the locals to be alert of any suspicious activities by strangers, including the hoarding of arms. Citizens have been asked to inform the police if in doubt.