NELLORE: For long forest areas as well as border mandals in Nellore district used to be a shelter zone for Maoists. But the district has become the new `action zone' for them in the changed security scenario.

When neighbouring districts were rocked by naxal activities, Nellore district mostly remained a safety zone for Maoists far removed from police-naxal encounters or any other related violence. Many of them had, however, recently taken shelter for a longer duration for the first time in border mandals of the district particularly the forest areas with the police making inroads in almost all naxal-infested Telangana districts and the Nallamala forest area stretching across parts of Guntur, Prakasam, Kurnool and Nalgonda districts. Subsequently, they have managed to set their feet formidably in the forest areas of Rapur, Sitharampuram, Marripadu, Duttalur, Varikuntapadu and a few other border mandals in the district.

Moreover, they have chosen hideouts, which are considered impregnable such as Busanaidupet fort in Siddeshwaram forest area of Sitharampuram mandal. Some of the key members of the organisation have reportedly been staying in the fort, which they consider safe given its geographical advantages.

Transporting arms

At the same Maoists have made the best use of the district's road and rail connectivity particularly National Highway (NH-5) for transporting arms and ammunition from Tamil Nadu by private cargo movers to Prakasam, Mahabubnagar and a few other districts. They have entrusted the job to former naxalities with good contacts in Nellore, Kadapa and Prakasam, according to the police.

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