Growing resistance against Maoists in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh districts adjoining Chhattisgarh border

In a significant shift, villagers and local tribals in the upper regions of Telangana are opposing the influence and activities of Maoists. This trend is particularly notable in the Telangana districts of Mulugu, Bhadadri Kothagudam, and Alluri Seetharamarju of Andhra Pradesh, the adjacent regions of Chhattisgarh.

On June 4, the death of a 55-year-old tribal resident of Jagannathapuram village in Vajedu Mandal of Mulugu District, who stepped on a landmine planted by Maoists while gathering wood in the nearby Kongal forest area, intensified the community’s anger and led to massive protests.

In a strong reaction, people from Mulugu district’s Vajedu and Venkatapuram mandals organised big protests. A massive rally of 4000 persons was organised from Y Junction to the Hanuman Centre in Jagannadhapuram village. exposing the contrast between the Maoists’ promises and the reality of causing harm to the communities they claim to protect.

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The resistance against Maoists is not confined to Telangana. In Andhra Pradesh, tribals in the villages of Darakonda, Gummirevulu, and Duppiliwada in GK Veedhi mandal, Seeleru, Eedugallapally, Chintur mandal, Killamkota, Boithili, Injari, Ginnelakota, Jamiguda, Kuntarla Panchayats  of Alluri Siteramaraju district marched and sang “Maoists don’t come to the Alluri district.” They argued that development programmes are now underway, which did not occur during the previous Maoist era.

The 500-strong rallies conducted in May last week featured banners and placards opposing the Maoists. The tribals accused the Maoists of extorting money from contractors and undermining development projects if their demands were not granted.

The local communities have been organising such rallies to express their demands, which include a strong call for Maoists to stay out of their regions, a cessation of interference in development projects such as the construction of roads, telecom services, hospitals, and schools, and an end to Maoist extortion practices and the killing of villagers under the pretext of being informers.