Kumram Bheem Asifabad/Mancherial: It is reported that Maoists have become active in Kumram Bheem Asifabad and Mancherial districts, they reportedly entered Telangana from Chattishagarh to recruit new members.

Combing operations have been intensified in several parts of Kumram Bheem Asifabad and Mancherial districts and on borders of Telangana and Maharashtra to prevent their activities.

Both Kumram Bheem Asifabad and Mancherial districts share boundaries with Maharashtra which is a neighboring State of Chattishgarh. The two districts, once strongholds of extremists, had not seen Maoists activity for a long time now. However, certain groups of Naxals from Chattishgarh are suspected to have intruded the bordering parts of the two districts to strengthen their cadres.

The members of the banned outfit reportedly crossed Pranahita river at Rampur village in Dahegaon mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district from Maharashtra. They are taking up recruitment drive in remote and forest fringe villages of the district and adjoining district of Mancherial as well. They are targeting youngsters who are dissatisfied with poor employment opportunities and undergoing financial crisis.

“We cannot deny nor agree about the entry of Maoists into interior parts of the district. Combing operations have been stepped up, besides improving vigilance on movement of extremists. We are requesting villagers to share information about suspicious persons. We are in touch with former Naxalites who played active role in the activities of the outfit in the past,” a top police official told ‘Telangana Today.’

Police authorities said intensive combing operations were being carried out by special parties and greyhound in Tiryani, Koutala, Chintalamanepalli Bejjur, Penchikalpet, Dahegaon mandals of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district and Vemanapalli, Kotapalli and Chennur of Mancherial district for the last few weeks. It is learned that intelligence wing of the Police Department alerted police about the intrusion of Maoists in some parts of the two districts.

On Monday, Director General of Police M Mahender Reddy toured Kumram Bheem Asifabad and convened a meeting with police authorities of the district. Ramagundam Commissionerate have been asked to guide police to keep a tab on the menace of Maoists. Nirmal Superintendent of Police C Shashidhar Raju visited Maoist-affected villages in Kadem and Dasturabad mandal and requested members of Gosubai, who is still with the outfit, to join the mainstream, on Tuesday.