Date:08/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/08/stories/2005070803880600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ammunition recovered from naxal hideout

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: In a startling exposure, the Karimnagar district police on Thursday recovered more than 50 grenades and huge ammunition from a hideout reportedly belonging to the CPI-ML Janashakti naxals in Himayathnagar in the State capital.

Though another house in Raghavendranagar of Nacharam on the city outskirts was also raided simultaneously, the police recovered only some firearm pouches, revolutionary literature and diaries containing details of party funds collected.

The raids were based on information stumbled upon after the recent exchange of fire at Mustabad of Karimnagar district in which four Janashakti naxals were killed, claimed the Director-General of Police, Swaranjit Sen, who visited the spot in Himayathnagar. None was arrested in connection with the two raids.

Three persons — Laxman, Ramulu and Yadagiri — all in their mid-twenties, claiming themselves to be computer students, rented the two-room portion of house owned by a court employee, Gopal, on May 25. "They never used to come down except for collecting drinking water," Gopal's daughter-in-law Lata told reporters.

They rarely spoke to Gopal's family members. "Till the police knocked on the door late on Wednesday night and began searching their portion, we thought they were students only," she said. They agreed to pay Rs. 1,800 a month towards rent and paid one month's rent in advance. Most of the other neighbours living in the narrow street did not even remember faces of the trio. A computer, large number of live rounds, 40 CDs, seven audio cassettes and a fund receipt book containing details of Rs. 1.34-crore collections were among the other items seized. The grenades were not company-made and "each grenade has the capacity to kill 50 persons," the DGP explained.

An album with some photos containing pictures of Vara Vara Rao, Gadar and Kalyan Rao, former emissaries of Maoists and Janashakti top leader Amar were also seized. Asked whether the naxals were planning to attack any VIP, the DGP said the naxals had been doing that for a long time. "Whenever the police mount pressure on naxals in the rural areas, they come to cities and towns. Naxals killed in encounters with the police are not angels," he remarked.

Reacting to the allegation made by the Janashakti leaders that the police had dumped the arms in the portion, Mr. Sen said all that they could do was make allegations.