The National Investigation Agency apprehended a prominent Maoist commander on Monday while conducting searches at 62 places across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the CPI (Maoist) conspiracy case, according to an official, news agency PTI reported. The day-long searches, which were largely performed in Andhra Pradesh, also resulted in the discovery of firearms, cash, and incriminating papers, according to a federal agency spokesperson. According to the spokesperson, Chandra Narasimhulu, a state executive committee member of the Pragathiseela Karmika Samakya (PKS), was detained in the Satya Sai area of Andhra Pradesh.
The NIA claimed a handgun with 14 bullets and a sum of 13 lakh were confiscated from one of the sites in Kadapa district, adding that Maoist propaganda and documents were taken from other places.
The raids took place in Guntur, Palanadu, Vijayawada, Rajhmundry, Prakasam, Bapatla, Eluru, East Godavari, D R Ambedkar Konaseema, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Nellore, Tirupati, Kadapa, Sathya Sai, Anantapur, and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Nine sites in Telangana’s Hyderabad, Mahabub Nagar, Hanumakonda, Ranga Reddy, and Adilabad districts were searched.
According to the spokesman, Narasimhulu’s detention is likely to provide more information on the conspiracy involving several frontal groups attempting to enhance the activities of the outlawed outfit CPI (Maoist).
Frontal organisations include the Civil Liberties Committee (CLC), Amarula Bandhu Mitrula Sangham (ABMS), Chaitanya Mahila Sangham (CMS), Kula Nirmulana Porata Samathi (KNPS), Patriotic Democratic Movement (PDM), Pragathiseela Karmika Samakya (PKS), Praja Kala Mandali (PKM), Revolutionary Writers Association (RWA) or Viplava Rachaital
“The investigations so far have revealed that leaders and members of these frontal organisations were extending support to the CPI (Maoist), which was banned as a terrorist outfit in 2009. The premises raided belonged to members and cadres of the frontal organisations,” the spokesperson was quoted by PTI in its report.
The case was first lodged on November 23, 2020 by the Munchingputu police of the Alluri Sitharamaraju district based on information connected to the movement of Maoists and the transit of their literature.
Pangi Naganna was apprehended by police while carrying Maoist revolutionary literature books, medications, a red cloth flag, electrical wire bundles, Nippo batteries, and brochures to pass over to Maoist members.
According to the NIA spokesperson, further interrogation of Naganna revealed that the things were supplied to him by the leaders of the frontal outfits.
The NIA filed a charge sheet against seven defendants before a special court in Vijayawada on May 21, 2021. Five of these belonged to frontline organisations: ABMS, CMS, PKS, PDM, and PKM.