The banned CPI (Maoist) is trying to regain its foothold in Agency areas of the district, if pamphlets and posters that have surfaced recently are any indication. The propaganda literature, in Odiya, was reportedly found on the Andhra-Odisha border four days ago.
There has been a lull in Maoist activity in the district for quite some time now. But there was apprehension among police that they would resort to violence during the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) week, which concluded on December 8. Barring a landmine blast, in which there were no casualties, there were no major incidents during the week.
A few days ago, Maoists kidnapped two tribal people, branding them as ‘police informers,’ on the Odisha side of the border. This, coupled with the surfacing of Maoist propaganda, has given rise to apprehensions that Maoists are trying to regroup. However, police have dismissed such reports. “There has been no Maoist activity during the past few days in our district,” Narsipatnam OSD Vishal Gunni told The Hindu on Sunday.
