Date:07/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/07/stories/2006120709620600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Maoist arms dumps unearthed in Andhra Pradesh

Staff Reporter

Police seize rockets, landmines and claymore mines

Recovery seen as another big blow to Maoists

Dumps unearthed from Palyam, Batrepalli forests

ANANTAPUR: In a massive haul of ammunition and explosives, the Anantapur police seized a large number of rockets, landmines and claymore mines by unearthing four dumps of the CPI (Maoist) during the last four days. Recovery of such huge dumps is being seen as another heavy blow to the Maoist activities in the district.

Giving details to mediapersons here on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police M.S. Ravindra said the dumps were unearthed during the combing operations by special police parties in different forest areas. The dumps were unearthed from the Palyam forest area in Mudigubba mandal, near Payakati cheruvu in Nallamada mandal and Batrepalli forest area in Kadiri mandal.

The combing operations were a part of a tactical counter-offensive to prevent the Maoists from targeting the elected representatives and the police to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the encounter killings of three top leaders of the party five years back, the SP stated.

Landmines and claymore mines found on the Mudigubba-Bukkapatnam road, in Puttaparthi mandal and near Bilvampalli village mandal were deactivated.

Claiming that this was the largest dump unearthed the SP said the existence of Maoists in the district was already reduced to naught with the recent encounter in Kadapa district. The haul comprised 14 rockets, 7 rocket launcher stands, 71 hand grenades, 26 firearms (one SLR, five .303 rifles, three 410 muskets, one .8mm rifle, three DBBL guns, five SBBL guns, three revolvers, five tapanchas and a large number of cartridges and bullets), 19 claymore mines, 12 land mines, 7 tin bombs and 4 boosters. Besides, there were a remote control which could blast four cars at a time, two walkie-talkies, 280 gelatin sticks, 1,175 electric detonators, 600 non-electric detonators, five tins of blasting powder, 12 camera flashes and revolutionary literature.

Srikakulam Special Correspondent writes: A huge arms dump, reportedly belonging to the Maoists, was recovered by the police in Srikakulam district on Tuesday. According to the police, the arms dump consisted of mainly blasting material.