Combing intensified in tribal hamlets, forests

ADILABAD/KARIMNAGAR/WARANGAL: The police have intensified combing in forest and tribal areas in view of the Naxal martyrs’ commemoration week to be observed from July 28 to August 3 to mark the death anniversary of Naxal movement founder Charu Majumdar.

Security personnel are checking vehicles, lodges and public places in Mancherial and Bellampalli divisions of Adilabad district. They are also taking into custody those whose movements are suspicious.

In Karimnagar, several Greyhound parties and APSP police teams are involved in combing Naxal-affected Mahadevpur, Kataram, Mahamuthram and Malharrao mandals in the eastern parts of the district.

Surprise vehicle checking, frisking and cordoning off of some areas are some of the activities taken up by the police as part of the measures to prevent untoward incidents.

According to sources, there is every possibility of a Maoist influx from neighbouring Sironcha taluk of Maharashtra and Chattisgarh into the district this rainy season. In Siricilla division, it was learnt that Maoists have resumed their activities recently.

OSD Harikrishna has said combing has been intensified as they have information regarding Naxal movements.

In Warangal, the police are on a high alert as they suspect guerilla attacks by the Maoists. Security has been heightened at police stations in forest areas to prevent attacks akin to that in Balimela reservoir that took place last month.

However, the police said posters or banners related to the martyrs’ week have not been found in the hamlets abutting the forests. Maoists are not in a position to organise programmes in villages, the police asserted but did not rule out the likelihood of conducting meetings in the forests