Date:02/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/02/stories/2007010203200300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

A forgettable year for Maoists

Staff Reporter

Movement suffers worst ever blow in Anantapur in 2006

Six Maoists including Nallamala division secretary killed

Arrests, surrenders and unearthing of dumps hit movement

ANANTAPUR: The year 2006 has left an indelible impression on Anantapur district in several aspects. Notable among them include the worst ever blows suffered by the Maoist movement threatening its very presence, sway of mosquito-borne diseases, continuing suicides of farmers, impressive show of TDP in local bodies and gram panchayat elections and rise in factional feuds.

Surely, it was a year the Maoists want to leave behind. Though only six Maoists were killed in encounters in the district including Nallamala division secretary Sudarshan, it was the arrests, surrenders and unearthing of several dumps, which crippled the Maoist movement most in the district. While 14 Maoists of different ranks were arrested by the police, 38 underground cadre including five dalam commanders, three deputy commanders, 19 platoon members and 11 dalam members surrendered before the police. Besides, 68 active militants also surrendered to the police.

Faction killings

The factional-cum-political murders were also up in 2006 compared to the previous year as nine persons including former Congress legislator K. Suryapratap Reddy were killed, compared to six in 2005. The local bodies and gram panchayat elections also witnessed violence including killings.

Politically, it was an eventful year with the TDP losing the Zilla Parishad Chairperson's post in spite of winning majority ZPTC seats, as two of its members defected to the Congress.

Otherwise, it was an encouraging year for the Opposition party for it had put up an impressive show against the ruling Congress in the local bodies and sarpanch elections.

Chikungunya

Farmer suicides also continued during the year and according to official records the number was put at 45, though it crossed a century unofficially.

It was also the year of chikungunya and viral fever as more than 100 had fallen prey to the diseases unofficially, though the health officials kept the slate clean.

Launch of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC president Sonia Gandhi was also a memorable event for the district in 2006. Nature had deceived the district yet again this year resulting in heavy crop loss due to scanty rainfall.