Telangana Timeline 2016

Date

Incidents

January 5

The two Ministers representing Adilabad District in Telangana State Cabinet are finding themselves embroiled in a controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in allocation of work under the centrally funded IAP in LWE affected districts, Adilabad being one of the 88 districts in the country where the scheme is operational.

Police arrested a RPC member Nupa Lakka during a vehicle checking drive at Edire Colony in Venkatapuram mandal in Bhadrachalam sub-division Khammam District of Telangana. Lakka was allegedly involved in six cases, including one murder case and one incident of exchange of fire with Police under the Venkatapuram circle limits.

A joint team of District Police and CRPF personnel arrested the CPI-Maoist's Wajedu LOS 'commander' Kanithi Papa Rao alias Vijay, carrying a reward of INR 400,000 on his head, during a search operation in the forests surrounding Alubaka area in Venkatapuram mandal in Khammam District of Telangana. "Papa Rao was involved in as many as 58 cases, including 12 murder cases and eight incidents of exchange of fire with the police under Venkatapuram circle limits in the district," Bhadrachalam ASP R. Bhaskaran said. He had gone underground in 2004. Since then, he worked as a squad member in Sabari Area Committee, Chintoor LOS, Venkatapuram Area Committee and Charla LOS before being elevated to the position of commander of Wajedu LOS.

An exchange of fire took place between the Police and Naxals, affiliated to CPI-ML New Democracy and arrested one squad member, identified as Sarangam, in the forest abutting Kothaguda mandal near Doragari Vempalli village in Warangal District of Telangana. Rural SP Ambar Kishore Jha confirming the incident said that there was a cross fire when the combing party of the Police personnel spotted a group of Naxals in the forest area. The Police arrested squad member, Sarangam, while the rest of the members escaped from the spot.

A Special Guerrilla Squad member and a militia 'commander' besides, four militia members of the CPI-Maoist were arrested by joint squads of the District Police and CRPF personnel during separate combing operations in Charla mandal of Khammam District. SGS member Dirda Bandi alias Deelip (24) was arrested by the Police and CRPF personnel during a search operation in Chintagupha forest area. Maoist militia 'commander' Madakam Nandaiah alias Andaiah (22), two militia members, Adamaiah (20), and Ithaiah (25), and two Revolutionary People's Committee members Sannaiah (30), and Gangaiah (35), were arrested by the Police and CRPF personnel near Taliperu reservoir.

A CPI-Maoist's Charla LOS 'commander' S. Bojji alias Anjanna, was reportedly detained by the Police in Khammam District. Sources said that Bojji was arrested while he was taking shelter in a chilli field on the outskirts of Battinapalli village in Charla mandal in the early hours of the day. Bojji, who is also member of the Venkatapuram Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist, carries a cash reward of INR 400,000 on his head.

A militia 'commander' of the CPI-Maoist was arrested by Charla Police in coordination with the CRPF personnel from Korkatpadu forest area in Charla mandal of Khammam District. A directional mine was recovered from his possession, Police sources said. Sodi Muka alias Mukkaiah, the militia 'commander' of Kondavai Revolutionary People's Committee of CPI-Maoist Venkatapuram 'area committee', was arrested by a joint team of Police and CRPF personnel after a brief chase during a combing operation near a forest stream surrounding Korkatpadu.

CRPF DG Prakash Mishra has said Maoist menace is coming back again in Odisha and Telangana after lying low for some time with the overall situation in LWE-affected States remaining "fluid". The DG said while LWE activity in Odisha had by-and-large cleared up, it is now "coming back" in Narayanpatna area of Koraput District. He added "There could be many reasons (for this) -- non-application of Standard Operating Procedures or lax Policing. The inherent danger is always there...even in Telangana and some places in Andhra Pradesh." "As of now, I would say the situation is fluid but if the drive (operations and development together) continues as it is at the present, then I think it (Naxal violence) is going to take a turn for the better only. There shouldn't be any let down (in operations and development works) in affected areas," he said when asked to give his assessment of the Left Wing Extremism situation in the country.

The CPI-Maoist has given a bandh call on March 7, 2016, in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Dandakaranya regions, condemning the encounter on Telangana-Chhattisgarh border in which it lost eight armed cadres. Jagan, the party official representative from Telangana State, has issued a statement that was circulated to all the local media offices in which he has said that the Police caught hold of the unarmed women and tortured them before killing them. He further said "The Chief Minister said that there will be no encounters in separate Telangana. But he is trying to eliminate naxals through the same means. Both the KCR and Modi governments have started Operation Red Hunt."

In an official release, the Central Government has said that eight of the 10 districts in Telangana are LWE affected. The Districts named are Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Warangal and Nizamabad. Only the two urban districts of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy have been excluded from the list. Incidentally, among the 106 Districts declared as LWE-affected, eight districts of Andhra Pradesh also figure - Anantapur, East Godavari, Guntur, Kurnool, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram. "By this reckoning, 16 of the 23 districts of erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh are hit by Naxalite violence. How could this be possible?" wondered a senior police official. Commenting on the report Telangana DGP Anurag Sharma said "I can react to the development only after I see the central communication. As far as the state is concerned, only Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam are left-wing extremism affected districts."

The bandh call given by the CPI-Maoist in protest against the March 1, 2016 encounter in which eight Maoists including five women cadres were killed, evoked poor response in Bhadrachalam town of Khammam District. Condemning the incident, Maoist spokesperson Jagan had called for a bandh. But response from traders and people was poor.

Disillusioned with the CPI-Maoist ideology and ill-health, a woman Maoist cadre, identified as Kunjum Edumen alias Kavitha, from Karimnagar-Khammam dalam surrendered before Telangana Police in Warrangal District. Kavitha joined the Maoist outfit in 2011-12 and worked for the Venkatapuram 'area committee'.

Fifty-three people were executed by the CPI-Maoist after 'kangaroo courts' found them 'guilty' in the five worst Naxal-hit states of the country in the last three years. According to UMHA statistics, 18 civilians were killed following the directives of 'kangaroo courts' or 'Jan Adalats' in 2015 for being alleged 'Police informers' or "for not believing in Maoist ideology". During 2015, 41 'Jan Adalats' were held by Naxal cadres in five LWE affected states, Andhra Pradesh (1), Bihar (6), Chhattisgarh (14), Jharkhand (14) and Odisha (6). Altogether 15 civilians were executed in 2014 following orders of 54 'Jan Adalats' and 20 civilians were killed in 2013 under the directives of 63 'Jan Adalats'

In 2016, till February 15, two 'Jan Adalats' have been held in Chhattisgarh. While nearly one lakh paramilitary personnel continued to be deployed in LWE-affected areas, the 10 Naxal-hit states; Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, saw 226 deaths in 1,088 incidents of violence perpetrated by Maoists in 2015. In 2015, of the 226 deaths, 168 were civilians and 58 were SF personnel. As many as 89 Maoists were also killed and 1,668 were arrested and 570 cadres surrendered before authorities during the year.

A forest guesthouse and a jeep were set ablaze, allegedly by Naxalites at the Tadvai mandal headquarters between Warangal and Eturunagaram in Telangana, on the intervening night of 15-16 April. The guesthouse was recently renovated and some huts were constructed by the forest department to encourage tourism and attract visitors to the State. The facility had remained defunct for many decades fearing Naxal attacks in the thick forests. However, as the Naxalite movement seemed to have declined, the Forest Department recently renovated it. A note, written in red ink, purportedly by Karimnagar-Khammam-Warangal CPI-Maoist party committee 'secretary' Damodar, said the Telangana State government should stop taking away the podu lands of Adivasis (tribals), which are acquired in the name of development, end open-cast mining and stop arresting people leading the "people's movement." The note also gave a call to people to join the "movement."

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze construction machinery at the Bejjur-Aheri bridge construction work site near Gudem in Bejjur mandal of Adilabad District. The incident which took place in the small hours left an excavator, a tipper and a tractor partly burnt.

CPI-Maoist cadres have called for Telangana bandh on May 4 and 5 in protest against exploitation and displacement of people in the name of development, and 'Operation Green Hunt'. CPI-Maoist Telangana State Committee official representative Jagan in a press release appealed to people to observe bandh and make it a success

Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre identified, as Madhu, a 'dalam commander' after a brief exchange of fire while two of his accomplices managed to escape at Muppalaveni village in the Warrangal District. The incident occurred at around 9 PM when the Police were searching vehicles in Eturunagaram mandal when they spotted three persons travelling on a motorcycle.

A group of armed CPI-Maoist cadres fired at a Police combing party in thick Eturunagaram forest area in Warangal District. According to information, the Police combing party spotted an armed squad moving in the forests near Mullakatta Bridge bordering Khammam District. On spotting the Police, the Maoists opened fire forcing the Police to retaliate opening fire at the rebels. However there were no reports of casualties. The Police reportedly arrested squad member Madhu and two other Maoists. SP (Rural) Ambar Kishore Jha, confirmed the exchange of fire between Police and Maoists. He also said they recovered two weapons from the arrested cadres.

The CPI-Maoist has dubbed the ruling TRS as "feudal and capitalist" like all other parties which protected properties of landlords and capitalists belonging to Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, "we are calling upon people and democratic forces to wage a struggle till the problems of drought, drinking and irrigation water and fodder are resolved," CPI-Maoist Telangana State committee official spokesman Jagan stated in a release. Jagan said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had given the go-by to the election promise of the TRS to waive loans of farmers.

A tribal youth was injured when a pressure bomb, suspected to have been planted by the CPI-Maoist to target Security Force personnel, exploded at Vijayapuri Colony in Venkatapuram mandal of Khammam District along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. The Police identified the injured youth as Tellam Ramesh (26) of Murdonda village in Bijapur District of neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

The CPI-Maoist cadres detonated a low-intensity landmine on Charla-Pusuguppa road near Charla in Bhadrachalam division of Khammam District as part of "Telangana bandh" called by the CPI-Maoist to protest against the recent "encounter" in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. No one was injured in the blast. The Maoists set off the landmine before putting up wall posters in the name of CPI-Maoist Khammam District committee on the roadside, terming the Gadchiroli encounter "fake." The Maoists, through the posters, alleged that three senior Maoist cadres had been killed in a "fake encounter" by the Police in Gadchiroli District on June 18.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, Goli Srinivas alias Praveen (39), surrendered to the Police in the presence of rural SP Ambar Kishor Jha in Warangal District. He carries a cash reward of INR 400,000 on his head.

CPI-Maoist has put up wall posters at Laxmi Colony in Charla mandal headquarters in Khammam District urging people to observe "martyrs week" from July 28 to August 3, 2016.

Adilabad SP Vikram Jeet Duggal asserted that there was no CPI-Maoist activity in the District and assured people that peace would be maintained at any cost. He pointed out that there were no incursions of Maoists from Maharashtra across the Pranahita River in Koutala or Bejjur mandal. In a press release, the SP said the Janamythri programme launched by the Police Department has helped bridge the gap between the Police and the people in the District.

Adilabad District Police arrested CPI-Maoist cadre Tekam Ravi alias Ravinder (22), a member of Indravelli dalam, who is an accused in the murder of Gond youth Kursenga Ballarsha last year (2015) in Tiryani mandal. Ravinder was heading towards Tiryani mandal headquarters and was waiting for transport at IB Tandur when the Police arrested him and seized two banners from his possession.

Naxalism showed varying trends in Andhra Pradesh during the last two years while it declined in Telangana during the same period, the Rajya Sabha was informed. In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said ''In 2014, 18 Naxal incidents were reported in Andhra Pradesh in which four deaths occurred and same year 14 incidents took place in Telangana in which five deaths were reported.'' In 2015, 35 Naxalite incidents came to light in which eight deaths took place in AP and the same year two deaths happened in Telangana in 11 incidents of extremism. In 2016 (up to July 15), 12 cases of extremism took place in AP in which five people died and in Telangana five cases came to the fore with no deaths,'' the Minister informed.

Stepping up their wall-poster campaign against the third phase of 'Operation Green Hunt' in Dandakaranya region, the CPI-Maoist cadres have put up wall posters, written in Hindi, at R Kothagudem village in Charla mandal of Khammam District, Bhadrachalam division. Sources said that a few wall posters in the name of CPI-Maoist Kistaram 'area committee' of Chhattisgarh were found.

Former Naxalite Nayeemuddin, wanted in over 100 criminal cases including the killing of IPS officer K.S. Vyas and his associate, were killed in an exchange of fire with the Police in Shadnagar Town of Mahbubnagar District. On a tip off that some unidentified persons were taking shelter in a house in Millenium Township in Shadnagar town, Police raided the place. On seeing the approaching Police, Nayeemuddin hailing from Nalgonda District reportedly began shooting from his personal weapon. The Police returned the fire resulting to his instantaneous death. Police sources said three persons were inside the house and began firing at the Police.

A woman CPI-Maoist cadre, allegedly involved in three murder cases and several other incidents of violence, surrendered before the Police in Bhadrachalam town of Khammam District. According to Police sources, Madakam Lakshmi (21), member of LOS, surrendered in the presence of Bhadrachalam ASP R. Bhaskaran.

Nalgonda District Police arrested surrendered CPI-Maoist weapons' specialist, Tech Madhu, for his alleged ties with former Naxalite Nayeemuddin. Tech Madhu, whose actual name is Thota Kumaraswamy, had surrendered before the Police in 2006. He got the 'Tech Madhu' tag because of his technical prowess in making weaponry. Madhu, 43, reportedly manufactured about 1,550 rockets and 40 launchers for the Maoists. After his surrender, Madhu was given INR 480,000 for rehabilitation by the government and he opened a cell phone store in Ram Nagar, Hyderabad. Following Nayeem's death, however, Police received information that Madhu had links with the renegade Maoist-turned-gangster and was involved in some illegal activities. While Madhu was travelling from Hyderabad to his native place Kesamudram, Bhongir Police of Nalgonda District arrested him at Aler and seized a country-made firearm along with four live rounds from his possession.

A bunch of handwritten posters denouncing the alleged destruction of crops in "podu lands" (slash and burn style) belonging to tribal people in forest fringe areas of Khammam District of Telangana sprang up in the name of the CPI-Maoist Sabari 'area committee' at Chalamala village near Taliperu reservoir in Charla mandal. According to sources, several posters, handwritten in red ink, surfaced along the Chalamala-Tippapuram road. The Maoists, through the posters, alleged that the Telangana Government was trying to take up plantations in the "podu lands" in the name of "Haritha Haram" (protect nature and increase green cover) and was resorting to repressive measures against the tribal people without implementing the PESA Act and the Forest Rights Act in the Agency areas.

The spurt in CPI-Maoist activities along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border reportedly prompted the contracting firm engaged in execution of works related to Mission Bhagiratha at Pusuguppa village in Charla mandal of Khammam District to shift JCB machines to a safer place in the mandal headquarters town. According to unconfirmed reports, the contractors concerned shifted some heavy equipment, including two JCB machines, to Charla two days ago following an alleged threat from Maoists.

The CPI-Maoist has called upon people, workers and employees to make the proposed bandh on September 2, a big success. In a statement issued on the name of CPI-Maoists Telangana State Committee official representative Jagan, they charged that the BJP and TRS-ruled Central and State Governments respectively were pro-capitalist and working against interests of the people. They stated that KCR Government had failed to implement the scores of promises he had made before elections. The Maoists charged that KCR was humiliating journalists for raising questions over the failures and the public movement leaders supporting the latter through persons showering praises on him. Once a progressive journalist and now Press Academy chairman Allam Narayana criticising justice Chandra Kumar amounted to curtailing freedom of expression, Jagan said in the press release.

J. Veera Swamy (19), an underground cadre of the CPI-ML (New Democracy) Sudhakar alias Bheemudu dalam, surrendered along with two firearms, including a semi-automatic rifle, before the Yellendu Police in Khammam District. Veera Swamy, a native of Damarathogu in Gundala mandal, gave himself up to Yellendu police in the presence of OSD, Khammam, R. Bhaskaran, in the coal town. Veera Swamy joined the CPI-ML (New Democracy) Linganna dalam three months ago, said R. Veereswara Rao, DSP, Yellendu. Vexed by the "lumpen activities" of the dalam, he quit the squad and subsequently joined the Sudhakar dalam, but eventually rejoined the mainstream due to disillusionment with its policies, he said.

A SGS member of the CPI-Maoist, wanted in as many as 19 cases, surrendered along with his wife before the Police at Venkatapuram in Bhadrachalam division in the Khammam District. According to Police sources, Veko Joga alias Jangu, a SGS member, of Yerrampadu in Charla mandal of Khammam District and his wife Nupa Paike, a Maoist squad member of Usoor in Bijapur District of neighbouring Chhattisgarh, gave themselves up to the Venkatapuram Police. Joga joined the CPI-Maoist around eight years ago and served as a militia member initially before being elevated as the SGS member of Khammam District in 2010. He married a fellow Maoist Nupa Paike while leading an underground life. He surrendered to the Police due to ill-health, sources said.

Medak District's Ordinance Factory Medak Defence Employees' Mutually Aided Cooperative Housing Society Limited president K. Ravinder Goud has alleged that he has been receiving threat calls in the name of Sridhar Reddy claiming to be an associate of CPI-Maoist. In a memorandum submitted to the Police, Ravinder Goud said that there were about 1,200 members in the society and construction of houses was on. He said he had received a call from someone identifying himself as Sridhar Reddy of Bhongir in Nalgonda District on August 31 asking the organisation to vacate the construction site within two days or face dire consequences. He said he had received another call on September 6 threatening to kill him and urged the Police to provide him protection.

The Yellendu sub-division Police arrested CPI-ML New Democracy underground 'squad commander' Koram Venkateshwarlu alias Ganesh alias Jampanna and seized a country-made pistol from his possession at Batannanagar forest area in Gundala mandal in Khammam District. According to Police sources, Ganesh had earlier worked as a 'commander' of Janashakti Naxal outfit between 2006-2007. He was allegedly involved in an exchange of fire with the Police at Polavaram village in West Godavari District, now in Andhra Pradesh, over a decade ago. He joined the CPI-ML New Democracy group in 2007 and since then operating in Tekulapalli area of Kothagudem revenue division, Police sources said.

Venkatapuram circle Police have mounted extra vigil in villages on the forest fringe in Charla and Venkatapuram mandals in Khammam District, as CPI-Maoist started its foundation week celebrations. The LWEs have already launched a wall poster campaign in the remote tribal pockets along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border urging people to make the foundation week celebrations a success.

A bodyguard of CPI-Maoist Adilabad (united) District Committee Secretary Mylarapu Adellu alias Bhaskar, Kanthi Ravinder alias Suresh (26), surrendered to Nirmal District Police. A resident of Laxmisagar village in Kadem mandal, he had joined the underground movement in 2014 and was a Mangi dalam member but functioned as a gunman to his brother-in-law Adellu, mostly in Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Nirmal SP, Vishnu S. Warrier said the extremist had actually joined the Maoist ranks in 2011 but had quit it soon after. He was arrested by Metpalli Police then. Ravinder was present at the July 19, 2016, encounter at Aheri in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra in which three Maoists were killed, including Athram Shobhan alias Charles, the Adilabad Divisional Committee member. He was also involved in the encounter at Lankapalli of Chhattisgarh State which took place on June 12, 2016, in which three other cadres were killed.

The CPI-Maoist has called for bandh in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra on November 3 to protest against the Malkangiri encounter in which 30 Maoists were killed. In a statement issued by Maoist's Central Committee, Pratap, a self-styled spokesperson, has given the bandh call in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. The Maoist organisation also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government, along with Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Government's, were favouring Bauxite mining in the tribal area against the will of the locals. Yesterday, in an audio tape, CPI-Maoist East Division Committee 'secretary' Kailash held the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh responsible for the encounter.

As many as 57 posters allegedly by CPI-Maoist activists were found pitched on Warangal-Bhopalpatnam National Highway 163 in Bhupalpally District. The finding of so many posters on the road side at Vijayapur colony near Kothapalli in Venkatapur mandal created sensation in the wake of the bandh called by Maoists on the day condemning the recent Malkangiri encounter that took place on AOB. After informed by a villager, the Police recovered the posters. The content of the posters was not known as they were reportedly written in Chhattisgarhi, a language spoken in Chhattisgarh. The impact of Maoists' bandh was felt in agency areas like Wazedu, Venkatapur, Kataram and others, while the situation in the areas like Bhupalpally and Mulug remained normal. Heavy bandobast was made across the District in view of the bandh. TDF leaders and RDF president P Varavara Rao extended support to the Maoist bandh. However, the bandh passed off peacefully without any untoward incidents.

The CPI-Maoist put up wall posters condemning the 'Mission-2016', the alleged anti-Maoist campaign being conducted by the SFs in the Dandakaranya region in Chhattisgarh, at Chelimala village in Charla mandal in Khammam District. The incident comes close on the heels of the bandh observed by the Maoists in five States including Telangana on November 3, in protest against the 'encounter' in Odisha. A bunch of wall posters, written in Hindi language, in the name of CPI-Maoist, South Bastar division committee, reportedly surfaced on the outskirts of Chelimala village situated near Taliperu medium irrigation project in the Agency mandal of Charla in the wee hours. The rebels, through the posters, alleged that the BJP Government at the Centre, TDP Government in Andhra Pradesh and the BJD regime in Odisha were trying to handover the mineral wealth of bauxite in the forest areas to the big multi-national companies. Condemning the recent encounter in Odisha, the rebels said that the people's struggle will be further intensified to defeat the 'Mission 2016'.

A 30-year-old CPI-Maoist cadre was arrested in Sircilla town in Rajanna Sircilla District. Following a tip-off, Police arrested Suthili Kanta Chandramouli alias Jangam Mohan in Sircilla town and recovered a country-made revolver, letter head and a seal of the outlawed CPI-Maoist, SP of Rajanna Sircilla District, K Vishwajith, said. Chandramouli joined a Naxal group as a Naxalite in 2002 when Katkuri Ramulu alias Praveen was its 'commander', the SP said. At that time Chandramouli was allegedly involved in offences of extortions. After some time, he left for Mumbai, the senior official said. "Recently he arrived at Rajanna Sircilla district and hatched a plan to extort money from a businessman," the SP added.

Sunnam Sridevi alias Nirmala (35), an 'area committee member' Charla LOS of the CPI-Maoist, surrendered before District SP, Ambar Kishor Jha, in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. According to Police sources, Sridevi, carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on her head, gave herself up to the Police in the District headquarters town due to 'ill health'. She was reportedly involved in several major incidents of exchange of fire with the SFs, including the Bote Tongu and Kanchala encounters in the adjoining Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. She has 36 criminal cases, including three murder cases, pending against her, Police sources said. Sridevi's husband Anjanna, an 'area committee member' of the outlawed outfit, was arrested by the Police earlier this year. The couple was earlier arrested by the Charla Police in 2007 and had gone underground after their release.

Two suspected CPI-Maoist sympathisers were arrested along with demonetised currency of INR 70,000 in Khammam District, SI Ravinder of Cherala Police Station told that two petty businessmen--G Rajesh and Ajit M, were arrested near Taliperu area bordering Chhattisgarh. It is to be noted that duo was given old currency by Naxals LWEs and they went to Hyderabad and bought jungle boots and other articles for Maoists. They were booked under Telangana State Security Act and produced before a court.

UHM Rajnath Singh said he is confident that the threat of LWE violence in the country will be completely eliminated in the country in the next five years. Addressing a conference of DGPs and IGPs of various States in Hyderabad, Singh said since 2007, and more security men were killed compared to the number of Naxals neutralised in country. However, this trend was reversed last year, he added. "This situation has further improved this year and Maoists are retreating in almost all states. Their own documents show that they are troubled. If we continue our fight with Maoists in this manner I am confident that the danger of Naxal violence will be completely eliminated in nearly five years," he said.

One person was seriously injured when he accidentally stepped on a tiffin bomb planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres near Vijaypuri Colony on Cherla-Venkatapuram highway in the Jayashankar Bhupalapally District. According to information, the CPI-Maoist Charla Shabari Area Committee put up banners and posters on trees along the road appealing to people to make a success the 16th PLGA week-long celebrations from December 2 to 8 and urging youth to join the PLGA to fight for the rights of the poor. They wanted the people to defeat the Operation Green Hunt launched by the Centre. According to the Police, one Guggilla Karthik (22), a resident of Venkatapuram village, a private driver, went to answer nature's call around 11 p.m. and accidentally stepped on the bomb planted by the Maoists. He sustained serious injuries.

Three persons were arrested as Police in Mahabubnagar District, claimed to have thwarted an attempt by the CPI-Maoist to convert old currency to the tune of INR 1.2 million with new notes by unlawful means. INR 1.2 million in old denominations and three mobile phones were recovered from the trio, Police said. The SHO of Makhtal Police Station in the District received a tip off that some persons suspected to be having links with anti-social elements were trying to convert old currency into new currency with the help of a post office employee in Manthangode village in Makhtal mandal, Mahabubnagar Police stated in a release.

A senior CPI-Maoist cadre of the rank of 'deputy commander' of the CPI-Maoist's armed squad operating in the restive Sukma District of Chhattisgarh, surrendered before Bhadrachalam in-charge DSP, Ashok Kumar in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Savithri Dalam Uyka Dulaiah alias Joga (24), carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on his head, surrendered to the Bhadrachalam Police due to 'ill-health'. He originally hails from Nalabelli village in Dummugudem mandal of Bhadrachalam division, the Police said. He was reported to be involved in six major offences, including the murder of Greyhounds Reserve Inspector Prasad, who was allegedly killed by the Maoists in retaliation to the Puvarthi encounter in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh in 2013.

A CPI-Maoist couple, allegedly involved in a number of cases including attacks on Police personnel in Telangana and Chhattisgarh and carrying hefty reward on their heads, surrendered in Jaishankar Bhupalpally District. K Ganapathi (40), a 'divisional committee member' of Challa Venkatapur Division of the CPI-Maoist, and his Wife Swaroopa (33), a 'committee member' active in Venkatapur area in State, surrendered at Bhupalpally citing their "disillusionment" with Naxal policies, a Police officer said. While Ganapathi and Swaroopa were carrying a reward of INR 500,000 and INR 400,000 on their heads respectively, said DSP Bhaskaran. "Ganapathi, a native of Shappalli village, has been active since 1999. He was involved in seven cases, including a bomb blast that killed 11 people travelling in a bus at Chintapalli village in 2001," the Police Officer said. He said Ganpathi was also involved in attacks on Eturunagaram and Mahadevpur Police Stations and for triggering a blast targeting a Police van in Chhattisgarh."Swaroopa married Ganapathi in 2004. She has been involved in at least five cases, including bomb blast targeting a police van in Chhattisgarh," Bhaskaran said, adding the couple claimed they got disillusioned due to "anti-people" policies of CPI-Maoist.

Rachakonda Police commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said three pseudo Naxals were booked under the PD Act for indulging in extortions, abductions and land settlements in Hyderabad. The Cyberabad Police said Bolla Narsimhlu, Oruganti Sammaiah and A Krishna were involved in nine offences in Jawaharnagar, Kushaiguda and Nacharam Police Station limits. "The gang members, posing as Maoists, threatened businessmen and realtor's with an air pistol. They demanded huge amounts from them in the name of party fund," the commissioner said. Police said the offenders used to make threatening calls to businessmen and demand money. They carried out their criminal activities in the Rachakonda and Siddipet police Commissionerate limits.

Telangana's Law Enforcement has received an intelligence input which has given them even more cause to be vigilant in Naxal-affected areas. A Special Wing of State Police Headquarters would closely track the bullet proof vehicles of SPs through GPS. PSOs would be posted round the clock to the offices and residences of the SPs. What's more, before visiting any interior places of the district, the SPs shall now have to communicate the tour schedule to the headquarters and submit a preliminary report to the state headquarters after finishing the tour. This is all part of the enhanced security measures to the SPs and SP rank officers working in Naxal affected districts in the state. Following the major encounter on the AOB in which 31 Maoists were killed, the Telangana Police officials have decided to enhance security given to SPs and their family members. The higher officials are understood to have taken the decision to provide greater security to the SPs working in nearly six to ten districts of the state.

Hanamkonda Police arrested a person who was allegedly acting as a courier for KKW Region Secretary Damodhar in Warangal District. A laptop, wall posters and revolutionary literature was seized from the courier. Disclosing this to media persons, Hanamkonda CI, A Sampath Rao said that the courier, K Devender, was caught on a tip off on Mulgu Road. He came to the city to repair the laptop and was apprehended by the Police. Devender was earlier arrested in 2005 at Nagaram village in Jayashankar Bhupalapally District. After his release, he was living a normal life but when the Maoist platoon commander Anne Sridhar alias Santosh met him in 2013 and requested him to rejoin the organisation, he accepted the proposal and joined KKW region secretary Damodhar. Devender was produced before a court and sent to judicial custody.