Andhra Pradesh Timeline 2018

Date

Incidents

January 7

The Centre has released INR 89.6 million to Andhra Pradesh under the SRE scheme. INR 89.6 million has been released to Andhra Pradesh as reimbursement under the SRE scheme by the UMHA recently, a Ministry official said. As per the SRE guidelines, the amount is given if there is existence of and activities by one or more of the organisations which were banned under the UAPA. Eight Districts of Andhra Pradesh are hit by the Naxal violence. They are: Anantapur, East Godavari, Guntur, Kurnool, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram, the official said. The amount is given for procurement of arms, ammunition, vehicles and technical equipment for State Police forces.

The Chintur Sub-Division Police arrested CPI-Maoist 1st Battalion courier, identified as Sanjith Mandal (37) at Pitchukalapadu T-Junction on Cherla-Bhadrachalam road near Yatapaka in the East Godavari agency area in East Godavari District. The CPI-Maoist courier was arrested while he was transporting kit material to Maoists on his motorcycle. The Police recovered six meters of Olive green cloth, 50 meters of Rexene cloth, four wall posters with CPI-Maoist literature besides INR 68,000 was seized him, said Chintoor, SDPO, Dilip Kiran. Sanjith was attracted to Maoism since 2006 and helping CPI-Maoist by supplying needful items. Sanjith also purchased a bike with collected money and transporting essentials to CPI-Maoist on his bike. He purchased green cloth and Rexene cloth at Vijayawada.

Tension has mounted on the AP-Telangana border with the CPI-Maoist cadres resorting to violence during the last few days. The Central Forces taking up anti-Maoist operations in the border forests have sounded an alert. CPI-Maoist cadres have restricted the Paramilitary forces from gaining entry into Maoist strongholds by digging trenches and felling trees on the roads. The CPI-Maoist leaders are holding meetings with the villagers in tribal pockets. With the CPI-Maoist cadres intensifying their movements in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, the Greyhounds parties have been alerted and combing operations stepped up. PLGA cadres damaged the roads, blasted a bridge and injured three persons including a CoBRA of the CRPF personnel and two civilians in the last few days. The AP Police recently stressed on deployment of more police forces to curb Naxal activities. The Maoist problem is an inter-State issue; we are holding discussions with our counterparts in the Naxal -dominated States. The cooperation from the officers is good. The Police are conducting medical camps and sports activities to win the hearts of the public in tribal pockets, said Police official.

Andhra Pradesh Police neutralised a CPI-Maoist dump at Amtakuru in Kurnool District. The Police found a plastic drum hidden underground and recovered one live grenade, one wireless set, 35 grenades and explosive materials during a search operation in Nallamalla forests.

The CPI-Maoist dalam member of Malkangiri District of Odisha, in the AOBSZC region, Muttha Rayi alias Beerayya (29), surrendered before SP, Vishal Gunni, along with wife and children, in East Godavari District. SP, Gunni said Rayi, who belongs to Penkurayi village of Kalimela mandal in Malkangiri District of Odisha joined the RPC dalam in 2004 and continued till 2012. He was elevated as 'member of action team' in 2005 and was armed with a SLR rifle and a pistol. After being elevated to the post of ACM in 2012, he left the movement and was reportedly hiding in Chennai, State capital of Tamil Nadu, fearing arrest by the Police. Rayi was allegedly involved in the killing of 'Police informer', Kimudu Harinath of Marriguda village under Donkarayi Police Station limits in East Godavari District, killing of a Constable of Odisha Police in Rajakonda village of Kalimela area in Malkangiri District in 2007, and was also involved in killing of two CRPF jawans (troopers) in 2007. The SP said that Muttha Rayi was also allegedly involved in the killing of 21-personnel of the SOG team of Odisha that was travelling in landmine proof vehicle in 2008, and in killing of several persons branding them as 'informers'.

Nine CPI-Maoist militia members surrendered before Narsipatnam's ASP, Ariff Hafeez, in Visakhapatnam District. According to Police, the surrendered militia members were identified as J Bobbili (28), V Veeranna (45), J Bala Raju (48), P Magae (45) J Gangamma (40), K Parvathi (20), J Seetamma (40) and K Laxmi (38). All the members hail from Manta Bheemavaram panchayat in Mandapalli village of Koyyur mandal in the District. ASP Hafeez said that the nine members were threatened by the Maoist leaders to assist them in anti-social activities in the agency. Maoists also utilised them as informers and demanded them arrange food to the group members. Unable to consider their demands, pressure to involve in anti-social activities, the members surrendered before the Police, the ASP explained.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres of the Galikonda Area Committee and two militia members of the dalam surrendered before SP of Visakha Rural, Rahul Dev Sharma in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. The Maoists were identified as Vanthala Lakshmana Rao alias Das (28), and Pangi Lakshman alias Venkat (25). The militia members were Pangi Sombra (18) and a juvenile in conflict with law. SP, Rahul said that Lakshmana Rao, a native of Annavaram of Koyyuru mandal, had joined the outfit in 2007 and was involved planting landmines, blasting APFDC's coffee pulping units, threatening and attacking the surrendered Maoists. Lakshman was involved in over seven offences, including the killing of a trader, Gundu Rao, setting on fire earthmoving machines, and abducting a few local TDP leaders. The militia members are residents of Nakkabanda of G.K. Veedhi mandal in Visakhapatnam Agency. "The Galikonda area has almost been cleaned up of the Maoist presence," the SP said. The accused were reportedly fed up with the high-handedness of the Maoist party and decided to join the mainstream and lead a normal life, the Police said. "The number of surrenders has been increasing in the Visakhapatnam region, and it will help in the development of the remote areas in the Agency," SP, Rahul added.

Six CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Korra Rajababu (42), Vanthala Sethu alias Tilusu (25), Vanthala Ramakrishna (35), Vanthala Ravi (30), Korra Mallana (30) and Pangi Bhaskar Rao (35) of Galikonda and Korukonda Area Committees (GAC & KAC) have surrendered before the Visakhapatnam Rural SP, Rahul Dev Sharma in Visakhapatnam District. Four CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Rajababu, Tilusu, Ramakrishna and Ravi carried a reward of INR 100,000 on their heads each. They were fed up with the ideology of the CPI-Maoists and wanted to lead a normal life by joining the mainstream, said SP, Sharma.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including a dalam member and a RMP doctor were arrested by the Police while routine checking of vehicles at Etapaka Police Station in East Godavari District. East Godavari District SP, Vishal Gunni said that of the three Madivi Rama (20) a tribal of Palod village of Sukma District of Chhattisgarh is a member of DAKMS Dalam while the other two - Molumuri Srinivasarao (38) and Payam Jogarao (32), are from Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana. Srinivasarao, a native of Chinna Nallabelli village, Dummugudem Mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem District in Telangana, is an RMP doctor running a medical shop attending to the medical needs of the Maoists, and Jogarao is an agricultural coolie but turned to be a Maoist sympathizer and worked as a courier. "During a vehicle check, the Etapaka Police spotted the three Maoists near the Police station and took them into custody. They seized a tapancha with five rounds from Rama," SP, Vishal said, adding the Police intensified vigilance in the Agency area following the recent encounter.

An 'assistant commander' of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Madakam Yerraiah (33), surrendered before the Police in East Godavari District. Madakam had worked as an 'assistant commander' in Kalimela, Motu and Papuluru dalams in the neighbouring Odisha State. He was allegedly involved in seven violent incidents including the attack on Koraput District Police office of Odisha and also in Balimela boat capsize incident in Malkangiri District of Odisha, in which 38 SF personnel mostly of Greyhounds were killed in 2008, said East Godavari SP, Vishal Gunni.

The Visakhapatnam Rural Police arrested four militia members of the Pedabayalu Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist in Paderu region of Visakhapatnam District. The arrested militia members have been identified as V Maleswara Rao, V Venkata Rao, Killo Chinna Rao and Chikudu Rambabu, all natives of Pedabayalu Mandal in Visakhapatnam Agency. According to Paderu ASP, Amit Burdar, the four militia members had got training in planting landmines. During the interrogation, they confessed to commit more than 10 crimes, including the killing of B Balakrishna at Killamkota village in the District in 2014.

Nine CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before the Police at Narsipatnam in Visakhapatnam District. All the surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Jartha Venkata Rao (25) Korra Dasu (27), Korra Lingaraju (22), Korra Jagga Rao (23), Plika Narsu (20), Plika Ramesh (23), Palika Ramesh (23), Korra Bandu (21), Paliaka Baburao (25) and Korra Bangaraju (22), belonged to Jerrigondi village in U Cheedipalem of Koyyuru Mandal in the District. They were recruited by Maoist leaders Kudumula Venkata Rao alias Ravi, Azad and Jambri. The surrendered are associated with GAC of the CPI-Maoist and all of them used to supply food to the Dalam members, gather the public for Maoists meetings and also acted as their route guides in the forests.

A woman cadre of the CPI-Maoist carrying a reward of INR one million on her head surrendered before the Police in Srikakulam District. The Maoist identified as Irothu Sundaramma aka Sadhana laid down her arms before Srikakulam SP, Dr C M Trivikrama Varma. She remained an active member of the CPI-Maoist for last 10 years and was working in the Nandapur Area Committee at the time of surrender. Police said Sadhana, who is a native of Bathupuram village in Vajrapukotturu Mandal in Srikakulam was involved in a number of Maoist offense including attack at Nalco Company at Damanjodi, Paluru, Narayanapatnam, Dayiguda and Mettakamaravalasa. She played a key role in Kedavayi, Chinnadoddi and Jaradu incidents also.

SFs arrested CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Muvvala Sanjeev alias Lungara (24), Dalam member of 'Korukonda Area Committee (KAC)' at Chintapalle in Visakhapatnam Rural District. Sanjeev joined CPI-Maoist as a village militia member in 2013 and rose to a Dalam member. He was involved in over six offences including the killing of Gemmili Sanjeeva Rao in 2014 and killing of a home-guard by triggering a landmine at Rallagedda area in May 2017 and murder of a Lova Sreenu, a small trader at Korukonda in October 2017. He is a native of Velamjuvvi area under Balapam Panchayat in the District, said Police.

CPI-Maoist's AOB 'east division secretary', Ramana has severely criticized Andhra Pradesh CM, Chandrababu Naidu and other politicians while addressing a largely attended public meeting in the AOB region. Ramana termed Chandrababu an imperialist lackey and said even in the undivided State, he has allowed the capitalist loot of the State. He said the loot has only increased after the bifurcation and strongly criticized the repression let loose on the hapless tribals to look the mineral wealth in the agency area. He also ridiculed Chandrababu's asking for loans from the people of the State. He also said that the people should hit the turncoat MLAs with slippers. He said those who switched the parties for the lure of the lucre will all be defeated at the hustings. He said Giddi Eswari, who was vocal as an Opposition MLA, is now silent on the issue of bauxite loot.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Kattama Adama (25) and Kovvasi Kosa (35) were arrested by SFs at Pichhukalapadu T Junction on Bhadrachalam-Charla road in East Godavari District, while conducting a search operation. SFs have recovered Maoist literature, explosives, SLR and 12 Bore rifle from the arrested duo. Adama is a native of Sukma District of Chhattisgarh State and Kosa is a native of Tondamaraka village near Kistaram village. They were working as the Local Operation Squad (LOS) members since 2007 in CPI-Maoist. The arrested Maoist duo would be produced before the Rampachodavaram Court, said SP, Vishal Gunni.

Andhra Pradesh CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Vanthala Chilakamma (25), from the Galikonda Dalam, surrendered before the Chintapalli DSP, Anil Pulipati in Visakhapatnam District. She is a resident of Nallabelli of Koyyuru Mandal in the District and joined CPI-Maoist along with her brother identified as Ramu in 2008. Chilakamma wielded a muzzle-loading weapon and participated in famine raids, and ambush-and-attacks on the Police parties. She was also involved in the exchanges of fire with the SFs and in blasting the APFDC coffee units at Thimulabandha and R.V. Nagar. She was involved in a few cases of killings.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a lorry carrying beedi leaves on the in Visakhapatnam District. CPI-Maoist had called for a State -wide Bandh demanding Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh on May 20. The Maoist bandh affected the movements of vehicles between Paderu and Chintappale.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Golluri Sarayi (25), a native of Pedabayalu Mandal, member of Pedabayalu Dalam in East Division, and Vanthala Rama Chandra Rao (42), a native of Malkangiri District of Odisha and resident of Chintapalle, who worked as a militia member, surrendered before the SP, (Visakhapatnam Rural), Rahul Dev Sharma in Visakhapatnam District. Sarayi during her childhood was attracted to Dalam and their revolutionary songs and joined the Dalam in 2009. She had worked as Dalam member, where she used to sing songs and perform dances to revolutionary songs in meetings. After her marriage with another Dalam member Bhangru alias Krishna, they left the Dalam in 2015 and started working as militia in Thaggupadu area till 2018. Her husband had also earlier surrendered before the Odisha Police and fearing arrest, she came forward to surrender. Rama Chandra Rao worked as a militia member to Korukonda Dalam since 2004. He had a number of offences against him, including cutting pipelines, indulging in incidents of arson, taking part in encounters, fixing landmines in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Rama Chandra Rao used to visit his brother, for which the Dalam was angry. About six months ago, he came to know that the Dalam had proposed to eliminate him to create terror in the area, said Police.

June 7

CPI-Maoist 'militia commander' identified as Mutchika Lakshmaiah (24) was arrested near Yedugurrallapalli village in East Godavari District. He was involved in four killings and 20 cases of Naxal violence in Chintur Police Station limits. Lakshmaiah belongs to Pusupalli village of Sukma District in Chhattisgarh. He was working as 'militia commander' and also providing logistic support besides passing on information of the combing operations of the Police parties to Sabari Dalam, said SP, Vishal Gunni.

June 8

A cadre of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Kovvasi Devamma alias Kirsi alias Deve (25), of Arlempalli village of Sukma District in Chhattisgarh, surrendered before the Police in East Godavari District. Devamma worked as 'militia member' from 2015 to 2016 and as Dalam member for one year during 2017. She also served as sentry, providing shelter to Maoists and as informer to Maoists passing on information and operated in Chhattisgarh, Yandam, Panodadi, Bottem, Durgapal, Tummala Gassaru and others. She used 12 bore weapon. Devamma took part in killings, planting of land mines and allied activities, said SP Gunni.