Eight family members, including wife, of Gemmili Sanjeeva Rao, who was killed by Sindri Chinna Ranga Rao alias Sharat, Divisional Committee Member of Korukonda Area Committee of the CPI (Maoist), in October last year, has been shifted to a safer place, after the Maoists issued a threat to finish them off.
Sanjeeva Rao, a native of Veeravaram village of Chintapalli mandal and a spiritual leader, was gunned down by Sharat.
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In retaliation, the villagers stoned to death Sharat and a hardcore militia member Palas Ganapathi of Sabbapalli village, near Balpam village in Chintapalli the same day.
This created a furore in the Maoist circles.
It was a major talking point at the Maoist plenary that was held in December, last year, in Bejingi located on the Andhra-Orissa border (AOB) cut-off area, said Superintendent of Police Koya Praveen.
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“Since then, the Maoists have been on the lookout for all involved in the incident. They had earlier identified 19 villagers, including family members of Sanjeeva Rao, but finally zeroed down on the eight of them,” said the SP.
The Maoists not only destroyed the temple built by Sanjeeva Rao and his guru Simhachalam at Gudalamveedhi of G. Madugula mandal but also distributed pamphlets with death threat to the family members.
“Since threat looms large, we have shifted the family members to a safer place and have requested the District Collector to build a house and alienate some land for their sustainable living,” said the Superintendent of Police.
‘MKB gains prominence’
Talking about MKB, Mr. Praveen said that the MKB division had been gaining prominence of late, after the weakening of the East Division.
“On paper there is no MKB division, but it is functional and even the latest pamphlets are being distributed under the MKB banner,’ said Mr. Praveen.
According to Mr. Praveen, the MKB division operates from the Odisha side of the cut-off area and is headed by Gajarla Ravi alias Uday.