Since May last year when Galikonda area committee leader of the banned CPI (Maoist) Gopal alias Azad and two others were killed in an alleged exchange of fire with the security forces in Koyyuru region, the Maoists have been suffering continuous setbacks in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam, including in their (Maoist) stronghold of Andhra Odisha Border (AOB).
3 civilians killed
Since May last year and till the latest killing of Gemmeli Narayan Rao alias Jambri last week, the security forces, especially the elite anti-naxal force of A.P., the Greyhounds, have gunned down about 35 Maoists, which includes three SZCM (State Zonal Committee Member), 10 DCM (Divisional Committee Member) and five ACM (Area Committee Member).
At the same time, the police suffered just one casualty and three civilians were killed by the Maoists in 2016.
Top leaders wiped out
According to the police, the entire leadership of the newly created Malkangiri-Koraput-Visakhapatnam-Border (MKVB) division and the East division, has been practically wiped out, especially after the Ramaguda or Ramgarh, exchange of fire in October last year.
The killing of Bakuri Venkat Ramana alias Ganesh (SZCM), Shyamala Kistayya alias Daya (SZCM), Prithviraj alias Munna (DCM) son of RK, Gamelli Kesava Rao alias Birsu (DCM), Madhu (DCM) and Jambri (DCM) and the natural death of Kudumula Venkata Ramana alias Ravi (SZCM), has considerably weakened the Maoist leadership in the agency areas, said a senior police officer engaged in the anti-Maoist operation.
Surrenders and arrests of Naxals too had been on the higher side this year, which was a major achievement, the officer said.
