Killing of Jambri hits Maoist leadership

He was seen by ultras as one who could mobilise Adivasis

Weapons recovered from the Maoists in Visakhapatnam on February 24, 2011.

Gemmeli Narayan Rao alias Jambri, the divisional committee member of the Galikonda area committee of the CPI (Maoist), who was killed by the Greyhounds on Friday near Annavaram village, enjoyed a love-hate relationship with the Maoist top bosses and the Adivasis in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam.

Among Maoists, he was regarded a fierce fighter and had the ability to elude the police with ease. He was an expert in extortion, had a hold over the contractors in the agency areas who feared him. He could mobilise the Adivasis for Maoist meetings, including their plenary sessions.

At the same time, the Maoist leadership faulted him for his high-handed behaviour with the tribal people.

In fact, he was demoted from the post of ACM (area committee member) after an incident in Sagulu .

Alleged atrocities

On February 19, 2013, three Bagatha adivasi men from Sagulu were allegedly killed in cold blood by a Maoist militia squad led by Jambri during a ‘praja’ court at Lakkavaram village, over a petty issue between the tribals.

This incident and other alleged atrocities put him in the bad books of the Maoist leadership and the tribal people, even though he was a tribal from Mettiguda village in Visakhapatnam agency.

He gained prominence after Gopal alias Azad, the earlier divisional committee member (DCM) of Galikonda area committee, was killed in an exchange of fire with the security forces in May last year. With Jambri also gone, a big void has been created in the tribal leadership of Maoists