Fear Grips Sircilla After Maoist Posters, Flags Put Up

Residents of Sircilla are alarmed by the rising of CPI (Maoist) flags across areas near Bukyareddy Thanda in Konaraopet Mandal. A letter addressed to the CPI (Maoist) Dandakaranyam Manala Special Zonal Committee was dropped at the Bunkyareddy Thanda village panchayat office late Tuesday night, in addition to the flags tied to trees.

When the gram panchayat office opened on Wednesday morning, workers found the letter and they immediately informed the same to sarpanch Lakvath Prameela.

According to the letter, tribals stayed in three locations near Marimadla during their visits to the area between 1997 and 2000. The Sitla Bhavani celebration was also celebrated, with a meal in the night. However, when the Maoists visited the location on August 14, 2021, they found a lot of changes. It was brought to the attention of the group that decided that land should be given to the tribals. The sarpanch and government bodies should take action in this regard, said the letter.

Tribals used to stay and continue agriculture in 50 acres of land between Bukyareddy Thanda and Ajmira Thanda on the Vemulawada-Marimadla Highway while Maoist activity was at its peak in Konaraopet. The tribals vacated the lands due to a conflict between the police and Maoists, after which forest officials reclaimed the land and planted eucalyptus trees.

When police learned of the occurrence, they went to the village, removed the flags, and launched an inquiry into the matter exploring all the angles. Konaraopet SI G Rajashekhar stated that they have filed a case and are conducting an inquiry.