A poster war is going on in the Visakhapatnam Agency with the Maoists pasting posters asking the tribals to boycott the elections and the police questioning the ideology of the extremists.
The posters by Maoists appeared in some areas of GK Veedhi and Annavaram areas which were removed immediately. The police on the other hand as part of their initiative to instil confidence among the locals for participation in the elections are holding voters’ awareness programmes.
Countering the Maoist campaign, the police posters were seen at Pedavalasa, Annavaram and RV Nagar shandies, in which they questioned the ideology of the Maoists. The posters read “is killing innocents your ideology.” Some posters also asked the people to ignore Maoists when they visit their hamlets and participate in democratic process in large numbers. The posters carried photos of some of the civilian allegedly killed by the Maoists.
At voters’ awareness programmes, senior police officials and sub-inspectors and inspector of the police station concerned were seen going round the villages and holding meetings with the promise to safeguard their interest and take up their problems with the officials concerned as part of moral policing.
At one such awareness camp, Chintapalle DSP E.G. Ashok Kumar asked the tribals not to extend any support to the Maoists when they visit their hamlets for shelter and food.
He later told The Hindu that due to sensitisation of tribals and community policing done by them, they could ensure good turnout in the panchayat elections and exuded confidence that the voting percentage would be impressive in the ensuing General Elections slated to be held next month.
