A Telangana Maoist alert has prompted heightened surveillance, combing operations and border security measures in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh after intelligence inputs indicated that Maoist groups may attempt to revive activities in parts of central and western India later this month.
The alert was issued after Jharkhand intelligence officials shared information with security agencies, according to a police officer quoted by Deccan Chronicle. The report said the Jharkhand police inspector general for operations issued a confidential alert on November 5 to security forces in several states, including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
According to the intelligence input, Maoist groups have called for three programmes: Khooni Kranti Saptah, or Bloody Revolution Week, from November 8 to 15; Daman Virodhi Saptah, or Anti-Repression Week, from November 16 to 22; and Shaheed Saptah, or Martyrs’ Week, from November 24 to 30. The programmes are linked in the report to possible attempts to mobilise support in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
In Telangana, police officials said border areas and Maoist-affected districts were receiving particular attention. Director General of Police C.V. Anand directed the police to strengthen security arrangements, with instructions reportedly issued to the superintendents of police in Kothagudem, Mulugu, Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Kumuram Bheem Asifabad. These districts share sensitive borders with neighbouring states and include forested and difficult-to-monitor areas.
The Centre has instructed the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh police to increase intelligence gathering, surveillance and combing operations in coordination with the Greyhounds, the states’ specialised anti-Maoist force. Security agencies are focusing on forest areas and vulnerable border locations, where officials said Maoist groups could attempt to rebuild networks.
A senior police officer in Telangana said more than 820 underground Maoist cadres had entered the mainstream through surrenders over the past two years. The officer also said there were currently no Maoists in Telangana. Anand reportedly visited the Telangana Special Intelligence Branch office and reviewed anti-extremist operations with senior officials.
Andhra Pradesh police have also increased vigilance in sensitive areas, while intelligence-sharing between Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states has been strengthened. The measures extend beyond rural forests: agencies are examining inputs that Maoist groups may be seeking to develop over-ground worker networks in urban and semi-urban areas, including through student groups and public organisations.
The report also said security agencies were monitoring videos circulating on social media that support a possible return to armed Maoist activity. The police response is expected to continue through the series of programmes scheduled to run until November 30, with surveillance and combing operations remaining under the supervision of district-level officers.
