Vijayawada, Nov 19 (NationPress) Facing intense pressure from ongoing security operations in Chhattisgarh, Maoists are reportedly seeking refuge in Andhra Pradesh. According to a senior police official, they aim to acquire arms and ammunition before attempting to reignite their movement from the Andhra-Odisha border.

Recent encounters in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district, including the elimination of top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma and five others, as well as another skirmish that resulted in the death of seven Maoists, highlight this evolving strategy of the outlawed CPI (Maoist).

Additional Director General (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha noted intelligence reports indicating significant Maoist movement from Chhattisgarh and Telangana, prompting ongoing surveillance.

“On November 17, following specific intelligence, we initiated an operation. An exchange of fire occurred in the ASR district on November 18, resulting in the neutralization of Hidma and five other Maoists,” he elaborated.

As part of the same operation, 50 Maoists were taken into custody across five districts in Andhra Pradesh, including NTR, Krishna, Eluru, Kakinada, and Konaseema.

The police showcased the arrested Maoists before the media, all hailing from Chhattisgarh. Among the detainees were three members of the special zonal committee, 23 platoon members, five divisional committee members, and 19 area committee members.

“This is the first time in history that such a large number of senior-level cadres have been apprehended simultaneously. They were pivotal in leading the Maoist movement in Chhattisgarh,” he stated.

The seized items included 45 weapons, 272 rounds of ammunition, 20 pellets, 280 cartridges, two magazines, four knives, 750 grams of wire, communication devices, and Maoist literature.

“They planned to use Andhra Pradesh as a safe haven to gather arms and reinitiate their movement from the Andhra-Odisha border,” he added.

Additionally, the ADG revealed that drones were utilized during Tuesday’s operation to assess the situation. The services of specialized units such as OCTOPUS and Greyhounds were also employed.

He refuted claims that the police were unaware of the significant Maoist presence, asserting that they had been monitoring the situation closely and waited for the opportune moment to act. “Acting prematurely could have compromised the operation,” he explained.

The ADG emphasized that this operation was one of the most substantial input-driven initiatives, executed seamlessly by field officers.

“We monitored who was arriving, their reasons, their accommodations, and their plans, all while remaining discreet,” he stated.

He reassured the citizens of Andhra Pradesh that the state police and intelligence agencies are vigilant and committed to ensuring state security. He urged the public not to panic due to the arrests, asserting, “Our aim is to eradicate Maoism from Andhra Pradesh.”

Referring to intelligence from Chhattisgarh and Telangana, he mentioned that several Maoists have begun to reach out, which could lead to a significant number of surrenders in the near future.

Continuing pressure in Chhattisgarh is driving Maoists to seek new territories outside their traditional strongholds, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and neighboring states.

The ADG extended an invitation to the Maoists for surrender, promising financial assistance and proper rehabilitation through skill development programs.

“Maoist ideology is outdated. We live in a democracy where coexistence is essential. We encourage them to surrender and reintegrate into society,” he urged.

He reiterated that the police would ensure that no Maoist remains active within Andhra Pradesh. “I assure the public that there are no Maoists in Andhra Pradesh. We will work to neutralize any remaining individuals in the forests after the recent encounters,” he asserted.

Highlighting the absence of fresh recruitment into the Maoist ranks over the last 7 to 8 years, he claimed this demonstrates Andhra Pradesh's success in curbing the movement.

The ADG noted that many older Maoists have relocated to states like Telangana and Chhattisgarh, where they have either surrendered or been neutralized.

He denied reports regarding the surrender of CPI (Maoist) Central Committee Secretary Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji.

“We currently lack information on Devuji’s whereabouts. He is likely in Chhattisgarh or Telangana. He is not in our custody. We apprehended his protective team, and we will uncover their plans through interrogations,” he stated.

When questioned about the March 2026 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate Naxalism, the ADG confirmed the state police's commitment to achieving this goal.

The Andhra Pradesh police are actively collaborating with their counterparts in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, and Jharkhand, sharing intelligence and working in coordination with various agencies. “We believe that the March 2026 target is attainable following the recent encounters. This represents a significant blow to Maoist ideology and movement, and we anticipate many individuals will voluntarily reintegrate into the mainstream,” he concluded.

While not dismissing the possibility of retaliatory actions from Maoists, the intelligence chief emphasized that the police are taking all necessary precautions. “We have alerted all intelligence units and advised public representatives in agency areas to reassess their security measures.”