NELLORE: After converting the district into a shelter zone, Maoists are now on the job of consolidating their influence in Nellore district in a phased manner.

If the current situation in border mandals of the district is any indication, Maoists are believed to have devised a strategy to first establish its presence in remote villages by various means in the next few months.

Eyeing educated cadre

Later, they want to strengthen the organisation by recruiting unemployed youth particularly from socially and economically backward sections with the help of Maoists, hailing from Nellore.

According to highly placed sources, around five members from the district have been active in the movement for several years. One of them, a senior member, was shot dead in an encounter recently. Now the Maoists are on the lookout for educated and dynamic cadre from the district to consolidate their influence.

They have decided to launch a fresh recruitment drive in the district.

To begin with, the organisation has entrusted the responsibility of identifying sympathisers among educated youth in remote villages near forest areas, to a few important functionaries.

After ascertaining their background, they will decide whether to admit them in the movement or not, a villager of Sitharampuram mandal said.

However, their efforts are at a preliminary stage and it will not be easy for them to get a foothold in the district for a variety of reasons, another villager claimed.

Tight vigil by police

The prime reason being, the police have intensified their vigil in the border mandals particularly in Sitarampuram, Udayagiri, Dakkili, and Pattapupalem besides in a few other mandals to check naxal activities.

Unlike in the past, unemployed youth in rural areas are not much inclined to join hands with Maoists. In such a case, they might adopt the age-old practice of recruiting boys below 15 years, the local police said.

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