Visakhapatnam: The Maoists are slowly moving towards Araku Region in Vizag Agency to set up a new base. Araku, which has been known to be a hot tourist spot in Vizag Agency and safe zone for police forces, seems to be losing its sheen as the red-rebels are shifting their base to Araku, which was close to neighbouring Odisha.
The recent incidents such as the explosion in a APSRTC’s bus near Damuku area of Ananthagiri mandal and the recent cancellation of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s visit to his adopted village Pedalabudu, which was around 13 kms from Araku are the clear indication of the presence of the ultras in Araku region.
Though the rebels have bases at GK Veedhi, Chintapalle and Pedabayalu region in Vizag Agency, the rebels’ decision to look for a new base (forested haven) seems to avoid surprise raids on their base and they intend to strike big to show their presence said some officers with police and intelligence.
Superintendent of Police (Visakha Rural) Rahul Dev Sharma said that the ultras either trying to regain some of their lost ground or diverting the attention of the security forces.
Recently the police have found some black flags and Maoists ‘banners in the border villages of Araku region, he added.
Sources said that some senior leaders of the CPI Maoist have been leading the force to set up the new base in Araku Region, which was close to Nandapur block in Odisha, where the presence of the Maoists is more. The Maoists presence has increased in Araku and Chatuva area of Odisha.
Encounter in Ramgarh or Ramaguda in the cut off area of Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) on October 24, 2016 was the biggest loss to the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in 40 years of revolutionary struggle in India.
A total of 30 red rebels including some top Maoist leaders were gunned down by the security forces in a dense forest in Odisha's Malkangiri district near AOB. “Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and few other politicians and police personnel are in the hit list of the Maoists hence we are taking all the steps to prevent any untoward incidents and will chalk out new strategies to flush of the rebels,” said the officials of SIB.
