The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Maoists credit masses for Balimela attack success

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Saturday, Aug 16, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Maoists credit masses for Balimela attack success

K. Srinivas Reddy

‘We had prior knowledge about police movement’

HYDERABAD: Maoists have attributed their recent successes in what they call as ‘counter offensive actions’ against security forces in Orissa and Andhra to support from people and said that it was confident of achieving a change in ‘balance of forces’ in its erstwhile strongholds in Andhra Pradesh.

The Balimela attack in which 38 Grey Hounds commandos travelling in a boat were killed on June 29 and also the killing of 26 Orissa policemen landmine attack on a Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) have proved the supremacy of creative application of guerrilla tactics and the ‘constant flow’ of information on police movement helped them pull off two of the most successful attacks, claimed Bhaskar, secretary of the Andhra Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC).

In the latest Maoist information bulletin, a copy of which made available to The Hindu, Bhaskar disclosed that the rebels had also got information about forces movement prior to Balimela attack from some police informants who were caught and interrogated. He refuted reports that rocket launchers were used in Balimela and pointed out that the rebels had used rifles and LMGs for attacking the boat. “We had the advantage of terrain and we knew the enemy will not be in a position to fire back at us. So we took full advantage of the situation and tried to wipe out as many Greyhounds as possible.”

Mr. Bhaskar, whose real name is believed to be Modem Balakrishna, foresaw a situation where even Greyhounds personnel, who hailed from poorest classes, would have a change in their attitude ‘when revolution goes into a high tide’. As of now the Greyhounds personnel hailing from Dalit and adivasi background were transformed into killing machines by the State.

The Maoist leader dismissed the general tendency to write off the Maoist presence in Andhra Pradesh and said media took the view that there was no Maoist activity when there was no effective blow from Maoists to the State. Conceding that there was a setback to the Maoist movement in North Telangana and Nallamala, he pointed out that it was not so in Orissa. “In Orissa, we never suffered any set back like in A.P.” He said the Maoist strength was growing steadily in Orissa and pointed out that major counter offensives in Koraput, R. Udayagiri, Nayagarh multiple raids were glaring instances reflecting the weakness of enemy forces in Orissa. On the claims of Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik that extensive damage was done to naxalite movement in Orissa, Mr. Bhaskar said such statements should be seen as ‘morale boosting exercises’ to motivate the police.

Rejecting the possibility of holding talks with governments, the Maoist leader maintained that such proposals from the State were only a part of the Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) strategy to weaken the revolutionary movement. “It’s a ploy for making greater preparations to suppress our party and the people’s war,” he added.

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