Tribals up against Maoists

VISAKHAPATNAM: In what could be seen as a shot in the arm for the Vizag district police, the tribals of 12 villages in the Visakhapatnam agency area have raised a banner of revolt against the Maoists' violent acts.

Calling into question the Maoists' motives, the tribals felt the rebels have no locus standi to stall developmental works being carried out by the district administration in the remote areas. They took a strong objection to the recent burning of a JCB machine by naxals, and contended that such acts would deprive them of a decent connectivity to the outside world.

"The Maoists seem to have no concern for us," a tribal leader said. A group of Maoists descended on Peddagaruvu hamlet in Chintapalli mandal and set ablaze the JCB machine as part of their continued acts of violence against government properties.

The government has sanctioned a new road to Maddigaruvu from Annavaram via Tammangula and Tulam of Chintapalli mandal and the poclainer was kept at Peddagaruvu to carry out road works. "Once the road is laid, it would cover more than 20 primitive tribal villages. The tribals could have had the benefit of travelling by RTC buses instead of walking long distances," an RTC official said.

Expressing their ire, more than 300 tribals staged a rally in the agency villages, carrying placards and shouting slogans like "Don't we need better medical facilities," "Are roads meant only for your villages" etc.

The tribals are particularly upset over the fact that the Maoists did not come in the way of laying roads to Kommangi, Bakuru, Muliyaput and Kommulavada villages. Sources said they are the native villages of top Maoist leaders Ganesh, Kudumula Venkata Rao alias Ravi, Chadda Bushanam and Jagan respectively.