Maoist arms case: NIA raids 62 locations in Telangana and AP

HYDERABAD: The NIA on Monday raided 62 locations across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in connection with its probe into the alleged illegal arms manufacturing by Maoists and arrested one Chandra Narasimhulu, a state executive committee member of the Pragathisheela Karmika Samakhya (PKS), from Satya Sai district of AP.

Sources said Narasimhulu’s custodial interrogation is expected to yield information about Maoist conspiracies.

NIA officials seized Rs 13 lakh and Maoist literature from the residences of members and leaders of the Civil Liberties Committee (CLC) and served notices, asking them to appear at the NIA office on October 6 for questioning.

The raids started at 6 am, at the residence of alleged Maoist sympathiser Bhavani in Subhashnagar, Uppal, here. She and her husband, Krishna, were questioned about links with Maoists, which they denied. NIA seized 25 books of Maoist literature from their residence, sources said.

 “We informed the NIA officials that we were not indulging in any unlawful activities. My wife is associated with martyrs’ relatives’ association and I am working in a private office. Bhavani's brother and my brother died in police encounters a few years ago, but we never indulged in any Maoist activities,” Krishna said.

The NIA raided the residence of advocate Suresh in Vidyanagar, and questioned him. He was learnt to have denied any link with the Maoists.

In Warangal, the NIA teams raided the residences of Mahila Chaitanya Mandali leaders Anita and Shantamma on Hunter Road, questioned them and seized Maoist literature, before asking them to appear for questioning.

A report from Adilabad raided the house of a Praja Kala Mandali activist in Laxmipur in Talamadugu mandal in Adiabad district. The NIA served him notice to appear for questioning.

An NIA unit, led by inspector C. Prasanth, assistant investigation officer at NIA-Hyderabad, raided the houses of leaders associated with civil rights activism in Tirupati and Nellore, including at the residence of advocate K. Kranthi Chaitanya in Tiruchanoor.  

The NIA served him notices under the AP Public Security Act, Arms Act and and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and instructed to appear at the NIA office in Hyderabad before November 1.

NIA officials also searched the Ellanki Venkateswarlu, president of the Civil Liberties Committee at Usman Saheb Peta as also Mahila Sangham leaders Annapurna and Anusha in Rythu Bazaar in Nellore city.

A report from Vishakhapatnam said the NIA raided the house of Human Rights Foundatuon functionary K. Sudha, who is assistant professor in the Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University in Sabbavaram, Anakapalli district. HRF office-bearer V.S. Krishna was present at that time. After six hours of searches, the NIA seized her mobile phone, hard disk and some pamphlets.