Andhra police adopt Maoist's daughter

HYDERABAD: On Children's Day, police in Warangal district have adopted the daughter of a top Maoist leader belonging to Communist Party of India (Maoist

Lanka Papi Reddy alias Ranganna, member of central committee of CPI (Maoist) has been underground  since he joined the guerrilla movement two decades ago.

Ranganna married a woman member of the outfit in the forest. He sent his daughter to his mother's house in Atmakur village in the district about 10 years ago.

Since Ranganna's mother was finding it difficult to take care of the 11-year-old girl, the district police officials came forward to adopt her.

Warangal district Superintendent of Police Sowmya Mishra said police would take care of her education. She handed over a cheque of Rs.40,000 to an educational institution for this purpose.

The development came amid mounting pressure on Maoists in the state. Police in alleged gun battles killed several top guerrilla leaders during the last four months.

More than 350 Maoists including top leaders were killed during the last two years. Human rights groups have alleged that the police were killing the Maoists in stage-managed gun battles. The police deny this.

Maoist violence has claimed more than 6,000 lives during the last 37 years in the state.