Bhopal: Nearly three weeks after death of secretary of Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) Ramanna alias Ravula Srinivas, Maoist leadership was yet to find his replacement, leaving local Naxal leaders and cadres in the region, particularly in Bastar in Chhattisgarh, anxious.
That it is proving a challenging task for the Maoist leadership to find Ramanna’s replacement can be gauged from the fact that two Central Committee members of the outlawed outfit, Ramakrishna, currently secretary of Andhra Orissa Border committee, and Ganesh Uike alias Saka Hanumanthu, who has been elevated as DKSZC member and made West Bastar Divisional Committee and southern regional unified command last year, have declined the offer to head the DKSZC citing advancing age, as per security agencies sources.
“The development clearly indicates that Maoists are facing serious challenge from security forces to retain their fast shrinking base in Dandakaranya region, particularly in Bastar in Chhattisgarh,” Bastar range inspector general of police P. Sunderraj told this newspaper on Tuesday.
Other top rung Maoist leaders who are in the contention for the crucial post of strategic zone of DKSZC, which generates revenue to the tune of `300 crore per annum in the form of extortions for the outlawed outfit, included Tippri Tirupati alias Devji, secretary of central military commission, Raju alias Vijaya Juru, secretary of north sub-zonal bureau, and K. Rama Chandra Reddy, who has recently been promoted from East Bastar Divisional Committee in-charge to DKSZC member.
In another development, Madkam Hidma, a Naxal leader hailing from Sukma district in south Bastar, who currently commands first battalion of CPM, has staked claim to the post, intelligence reports said.
“Hidma held a meeting of local Maoist leaders including commanders of platoons under his battalion in the village of Sakler under Kistaram police station in south Bastar district of Sukma on December 13 to chalk out future course of action in the wake of Ramanna’s death”, Intelligence reports, accessed by this newspaper, revealed.
“He stands remote chance of replacing Ramanna,” an expert in the know of developments in Maoist circle said.
