A major breakthrough in Andhra Pradesh’s anti-Naxal operations unfolded on Tuesday as police arrested 31 Maoists hiding in Vijayawada, Kakinada and other parts of Krishna district. The arrests created a stir across the region, especially as several of those detained were senior Maoist leaders from Chhattisgarh who had quietly entered the state to escape intensified combing operations.
In a major strike, 27 Maoists were arrested from a four-storey building in New Autonagar, Kanuru, a busy industrial hub in Vijayawada. Most of them were women who had cleverly taken shelter by posing as migrant labourers working in nearby factories and timber depots. Security forces launched extensive searches after intelligence inputs indicated that Maoist groups had infiltrated the region and were living among migrant workers to avoid detection. Additional Director General (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha confirmed that 31 Maoists in total were arrested across Vijayawada, Kakinada and Krishna district.
The Autonagar area, known for employing large numbers of workers from various states including Chhattisgarh, offered the Maoists a perfect cover. Investigators believe the group had blended in with ease, staying in rented buildings and avoiding activities that could raise suspicion. Large-scale search operations were carried out, though it remains unclear if arms or explosives were seized from the locations.
The arrests are closely linked to Tuesday’s major security operation in the Alluri Sitharamaraju district forests along the Andhra-Odisha border. In that encounter, six Maoists were killed, including CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member and top commander Hidma, along with his wife Raji. Facing sustained pressure from security forces in Chhattisgarh, several Maoists are believed to have fled into Andhra Pradesh over the past few weeks.
According to the ADG Intelligence, officers had been monitoring Maoist movements across the state for nearly a month. Some cadres and sympathisers were suspected to have moved deep into the interior regions, seeking temporary refuge before regrouping. Police are now questioning the owner of the Autonagar building and attempting to trace those who provided shelter or logistical support to the Maoist group. Investigators are also probing whether the detainees were planning attacks or trying to rebuild networks in urban pockets.
Officials noted that such a large number of Maoists have never been arrested from any Andhra Pradesh city, even during the peak of Naxal activity. The latest crackdown is expected to significantly weaken Maoist presence in the state while offering crucial intelligence on cross-border insurgent movement.
