Taking advantage of the prevailing volatile political situation in Andhra Pradesh, the Maoists may try to strengthen their base, police officials have warned.
Left-wing extremists, who have reportedly supported the Telangana agitation, may utilise the current unrest to strengthen their base in the backward region, once a hotbed of Naxal activity, they said.
The Andhra police is worried about the heightened activities of the Maoists in neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Orissa. There is always a danger of Maoists coming back to the state and regaining the lost ground, given the turmoil prevailing in the last few months, according to a senior police official.
Security forces of Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam, bordering Orissa, and Khammam district adjoining Chhattisgarh have been put on a high alert, the police said.
Andhra Pradesh shares a 400-km long border with Orissa and 220-km long boundary with Chhattisgarh, one of the worst Naxal-affected states in the country.
These borders are being guarded round-the-clock to thwart any crossover by the extremists, officials said.
Director General of Police R R Girish Kumar said all efforts will be made to ensure that ultras don't return to the state and unleash violence.
"Our state police is capable to thwart any attempt of Maoists to cross over the border to enter Andhra," the DGP said.
He said, however, the Left-wing Maoist violence touched the lowest point in 2009 in the last decade, but the police had not lowered its guard on the borders.
The number of fire exchanges with the police came down to 13 in 2009, compared to 28 in 2008 and 49 in 2007, he said.
The Maoists shifted their activities outside Andhra Pradesh after failure of peace talks in 2004 with the state government and meticulous operations carried by state police.
The security forces, including the elite Grey Hounds force have carried out outstanding work in anti-Naxalite operation not only in Andhra Pradesh, but also outside the state, the police official said.
Khammam district Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar said the Andhra-Chattisgarh was heavily guarded and police are keeping a strict watch on the movement of people as well as vehicles coming from the tribal state.
"There are eight police stations on the border which were heavily manned besides continous combing operations by the state police, CRPF (Central reserved police force) and elite force personnel if necessary," he said.
