Maoists have further stepped up activities in the Visakhapatnam Agency area along the Andhra Pradesh-Orissa border after calling a two-day bandh. On Wednesday, they again felled trees and set up more blockades on roads leading to villages to check the movement of security forces.

All these tribal villages are covered under the Integrated Tribal Development Agency and called the Vizag Agency area.

While police are not using vehicles for anti-Maoist operations out of fear of landmine blasts, at least five CRPF companies, Greyhounds personnel and police parties are carrying out combing operations on foot in the area.

In a message to Maoists to desist from violence, Director General of Police R Girish Kumar on Wednesday said if the Maoists resorted to violence, the state police will retaliate with full fire power.

The bandh was declared by the CPI (Maoists), AP-Orissa Special Zone, in protest against the operations by security forces against Maoists in the neighbouring states. It is believed that the Maoists displaying their might by way of bandhs to secure a stranglehold on tribal areas.

A Special Intelligence Branch officer said the Maoists have taken control of roads that connect the border villages to Malkangiri in Orissa. In fact, around 200 heavily armed Maoists are learnt to have taken control of the Vizag Agency area to provide shelter to Maoists retreating from neighbouring states where offensives against them are underway.

"This area has always served as a shelter for Maoists wanting to escape combing operations. From the posters and pamphlets found in the area, it is apparent that they are trying to gain sympathy and support for their cadres fighting in the Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa and that they want the tribals to provide shelter to them," said Visakhapatnam Rural SP Vineet Brijlal.

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