Concern over new AP-Orissa naxal zone

By K. Srinivas Reddy

HYDERABAD, OCT. 8. The formation of a special zonal committee by the People's War Group (PWG) covering areas of four north coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and five districts of adjoining Orissa making them a guerrilla zone has been causing concern to the police agencies in the two States.

Intelligence agencies are of the view that the renewed wave of violence, especially in these districts - East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh and Malkangiri, Ganjam, Gajapathi, Koraput and Raigadh of Orissa - could be directly linked to the changed strategies and tactics consequent to the formation of the new guerrilla zone.

The newly formed guerrilla zone, which is looked after by the Andhra Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), is believed to be part of the PWG's plan to establish a corridor between North Telangana and the East Region. The formation of this committee during March this year comes close on the heels of the formation of the People's Guerrilla Army (PGA) in Andhra Pradesh on December 2, 2000. (However, the PGA launch was delayed in North Telangana a month later for unspecified reasons).

Police officers believe that the AOBSZC is headed by Wadkapur Chandramouli, better known as Devanna and Balakrishna. Chandramouli who hails from Karimnagar district, is thought to be an excellent hand in fieldcraft. He was the principal military instructor for the underground cadre for a long time in North Telangana.

The 40-year-old naxal leader is assisted by Gopu Sammi Reddy, another leader hailing from Karimnagar. Modem Balakrishna, a naxalite leader who recently jumped bail and went underground, is also believed to be a member of the AOBSZC. Apart from these leaders, Maddu Babu Rao alias Viswanatham of Srikakulam, Komalla Seshagiri Rao alias Amar of Warangal district, Ramachandra Reddy alias Chalapathi of Chittoor and another woman member are members of the AOBSZC.

After its formation, the AOBSZC is reported to have formed at least two special action teams to undertake attacks on targeted persons. The killing of CI Gandhi in a court hall in Vizianagaram district recently is believed to have been carried out on instructions of the SZC secretary. The landmine explosion in the agency areas of the East Godavari district in which five CRPF men were killed, the plan to attack the Maredmilli police station (both in September), the attacks on Motu and Kalimela police stations (in August) stand testimony to the changed tactics and strategies of the PWG.

The formation of the AOBSZC indicates that the PWG is of the view that the revolutionary movement in these nine districts, which was in organisational phase, has developed into a stage where the PWG had to work with a guerrilla zone perspective. That only means that there would be a radical change in strategies and tactics to be employed in these nine districts.

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