India - press news - Maoists change ‘strategy’ to regain strongholds in Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee areas

In a bid to win over the people in the Vishakhapatnam agency areas of north Andhra Pradesh, the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres are now visiting the bordering areas of Vizianagaram and some parts of Srikakulam District in plainclothes and holding meetings on the State Government’s apathy towards the villagers’ problems related to land and local issues, reports The Times of India on June 28. Following severe loss of cadre and ammunition dumps, the Maoists are making their moves carefully. The Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) leaders’ recently held meeting with the East Division Maoists would also bring about a change in the attitude of the Maoists in Visakha Agency and East Godavari, sources said. “Locals are surprised to see naxals visiting their villages without wearing their usual olive green uniforms. A team of 4-5 naxals visit the villages first to ensure that combing parties are not in the vicinity and then the leaders arrive at the village to conduct meetings. This has been going along the bordering areas for the past few weeks,” said a senior Police officer on conditions of anonymity. Even their style of interacting with the people has changed and they are now mingling with the people in a friendly manner, he added.

Meanwhile, Srikakulam-Koraput division committee ‘deputy commander’ VR Chaitanya alias Aruna was spotted holding meetings with locals at the bordering villages of Kotia and Narayanpatna in Koraput District. According to the sources, the Maoists are now totally focused on organisational activity mainly educating the people on various issues to help raise their voice against government authorities and elected representatives. Srikakulam-Koraput division ‘commander’ Chamala Krishna Murthy alias Daya has also been busy near the bordering areas of Araku, the sources added.