The anti-naxal force (ANF) has changed tact to counter Maoists, and is now aiming at stymieing their further growth in the state.
Highly placed sources in the ANF claimed that the new strategy was working according to their plan, with Maoists being pushed to areas adjoining Andhra Pradesh.
“We have adopted a people-friendly agenda for the past one year and things are moving according to our plans. Now, people come to us to solve their problems instead of going to the extremists,” said an officer from Chikmagalur, a Maoist-infested area.
A senior officer in the rank of additional director-general of police has been assigned to initiate people-friendly measures in areas under the Maoist shadow. Following a confidence building exercise, people have been getting closer to the police, much to the discomfiture of the Maoist cadre.
“We try to address their problems, sometimes even personal issues. This has resulted in getting local residents closer to the ANF and local police. This has also instilled fear in Maoists, who now think that it is dangerous to seek the support of people,” the officer said.
He said this was the first time that the police resorted to ‘Gandhigiri’. Quoting intelligence sources, he said that the Maoists within the state were moving towards Yadgir and Raichur districts, closer to Andhra Pradesh. To drive in his point, the officer cited the arrest of a wanted Maoist leader, Neelaguli Padamanabha alias Paddana alias Harisha alias Viveka near Yadgir early this month.
The officer observed that these were more than 20 Maoists wanted in the state.
“We strongly suspect that Maoist cadres and supporters are clandestinely visitingBangalore. But the intelligence we get is sketchy. We will intensify our watch over Bangalore, where the cadre is suspected to be raising funds through extortion,”
he said.
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