Telengana: Security forces dent Maoist courier-runner network

Hyderabad: Maoists are not only losing their cadre to the security forces but also their couriers and runners, who are considered their backbone, for survival in the jungle. According to intelligence officials, Maoists in the agency area of TS and adjoining Chhattisgarh and AP, have lost their couriers to the police. The police arrested many couriers in a revised strategy planned to tackle their sympathisers.

The couriers help the Maoists not only to fetch rations, food, medicines, e-gadgets, arms and other articles, but also help them send messages across to their colleagues or select persons.

“Arms and material needed for making landmines and other e-gadgets are supplied by the couriers. Nevertheless, the recent crackdown has had an impact on them. It is evident from the high number of Maoists getting killed in the encounters,” said an intelligence official.

The couriers also keep a watch on the movement of the security forces and tip off the Maoists dalam about their movement. Likewise, there are runners whose main job is to carry messages from one dalam to another during emergencies. 

The courier-and-runner system dates back to the era when there were no communications like phones, but it is still continuing as it is considered a safer option as security agencies are now mounting electronic surveillance, the officials feel.

The intelligence agencies have learned that the Maoist leadership is now keen on strengthening its informer network and it prefers locals, so they motivate them with their ideology. “Incentives are provided for menial jobs like fetching rations and medicines while for those bringing arms, electronic gadgets or other material used for fighting the security forces, the rewards are higher,” pointed out the official.

Until recently, Maoists had enjoyed a very strong courier network in the agency areas of Telangana. But the cops acted and have taken into custody several couriers across the state. At times, the couriers ferry essentials, mainly medicines, from towns and cities in one state and take them to jungles in the other states, the police say.