Signs of Maoists' return

Police keep close watch on possible Maoist activity following reports of naxalite movement at villages in Vaipet forest in Adilabad district and in other districts.

A disintegrated martyrs memorial column near Vaipet in Indervelli mandal of Adilabad district.-Photo: S. Harpal Singh

For reasons best known to them, the Maoists seem to be unable to shun Adilabad district despite suffering tremendous losses in the past in the shape of encounter deaths of their top leaders and surrender of numerous cadres. A 20 to 25 member strong dalam of armed naxalites has reportedly been sighted in the villages in Vaipet forest area of Indervelli mandal since the last few weeks.

For record’s sake, Adilabad accounts for the death of 155 Maoists including top notch figures like the Maoist Central Committee member Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad and surrender of 259 cadres. There have been 157 exchanges of fire, including the two from last year, which has had a devastating effect on the Communist Party of India (Maoist) presence in this district.

The presence of the band of the outlawed organisation gains significance in view of the ongoing Maoist Martyrs Week across the country’s naxal influenced areas. “There however, is little chance of them creating law and order problem in the district under prevailing conditions which are not at all favourable for them to thrive,” opined a police officer associated with anti naxal operations in the district as he dismissed the perceived threat posed by the Maoist band.

The armed operatives are reported to have repeatedly visited Bheempur and Vaipet villages located about 25 km away from the mandal head quarter. They are presumed to have come to the villages seeking shelter for some time and not for anything specific, according to a source.

“There is a chance that the Naxalites could either erect new memorials for their ‘martyrs’ or repair old ones which are in a state of disrepair. There is one fallen memorial close to Vaipet which was the object of attention of the Maoist leaders during their last visit a few days back,” the source added.

Meanwhile, posters purportedly written by Mylarapu Adellu alias Bhaskar, Maoist Divisional Committee Member and Atram Shobhan alias Charles, Area Committee Member have sprung up in Tiryani and Somwarpet in Khanapur exhorting people to participate in the Martyrs Week. The police are not taking the issue seriously owing to the questionable authenticity of the posters but it has increased vigil in the areas concerned all the same.