The widespread talk about Maoists’ hit list containing nearly 200 names is sending down the spine of senior leaders and also local people’s representatives at village and mandal levels in Visakhapatnam agency area these days.
Leaders are not venturing out now without taking proper caution and almost all major programmes are either postponed or cancelled. The police have heightened security for Roads and Buildings Minister Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu and Paderu MLA Giddi Eeswari as their names have figured prominently in the list.
Maoist threat is perceived mostly for suspected informers and mid level leaders in Pedabayalu, Chintapalli and GK Veedhi mandals. In fact, Pedabayalu Mandal President Umamaheswara Rao’s name has also figured in the list.
Negligence on the part of Araku circle police and their failure to gather intelligence about Maoists movement has drawn criticism from different parties. There is growing concern that police in agency are busy with settlements between ganja smuggling gangs and traders rather than maintaining close vigil on law and order.
The recent Araku MLA killing took place at Livitiputta which is just about 3 kms from mandal headquarters town of Dumbriguda. The local police faced serious charges of negligence despite the fact that tribals were discussing about Maoists’ martyrs week celebrations in Paderu division limits. This was why the police bosses suspended Dumbriguda SI Ammanna Rao.
As the border villages with Orissa are havens for Maoists, the police in both the states have intensified surveillance there. The common tribals and local leaders were shocked at the incident and fears of the police combings loomed large thereafter.
For nearly an hour after MLA Sarveswara Rao and ex MLA Siveru Somu were left dead, their gunmen could not pass on information to officials. They could not get mobile signal at Livitiputta village limits after the killing incident and they had to run to some distance till they got signal in their cell phones.
The tribals are apprehensive of a major police crackdown anytime now. Amid growing hearsay and concerns, the impact of MLA’s killing is sure to be felt in the coming general elections.
