Andhra Pradesh is fast on its way to regaining its position as the main Naxal hotspot as security forces in neighbouring states start an offensive against the Naxalites. With security forces in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa launching ‘Operation Green Hunt’ to weed out the Maoists, the thick Nallamalla forests and remote tribal areas are providing a safe haven for the Maoists.

On Tuesday, the Maoists blocked the Ballimela-Chitrakonda road that connects Andhra Pradesh with Orissa by felling trees and setting up huge road blocks. This is a vital link used by police, Greyhounds and paramilitary police to conduct search and combing operations along the AP-Orissa border. Police said that there was a threat that the Maoists might ambush any police party trying to clear the road. The area, where Maoists leaving Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand before Operation Green Hunt starts in this area, are learnt to be taking shelter is now totally cut-off. SP J G Murali said that a Special Operations Group team would try to clear the road on Wednesday.

Intelligence officials said that the few Maoists remaining in Andhra are at work preparing hideouts and shelters in the forests and tribal villages for their cadre retreating from neighbouring states. Especially vulnerable are Khammam and Karimnagar districts which share a border with Chhattisgarh and Orissa apart from the hilly regions of East Godavari and tribal areas of Visakhapatnam district bordering Orissa.

The Andhra Pradesh police has increased vigilance and patrolling along these volatile borders to prevent any attempts to sneak in. Director General of Police (DGP) R Girish Kumar, who is on a visit to the Maoist-affected areas of Vizag district, says that after the violence in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Maoists may try to sneak into the state to avoid a direct engagement with the security forces there. “It is a real time threat,” he said. The DGP is visiting Maoist-stronghold areas of Paderu and Chintapalli in the Vizag Agency area and is also investigating reports of a group of LTTE guerrillas landing on the Vizag coast to train Maoists in guerrilla and jungle warfare.

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