Revolutionary Writers organization (Virasam) leader Varavara Rao has alleged here on Thursday that Maoist top leader and Central Committee member Akkiraju Haragopal, popularly known as ‘RK’, Ganesh and many other senior Maoist leaders were taken into custody by the police during the encounter that took place in Malkangiri district forest area.
Making this sensational observation, Varavara Rao demanded that all the maoist leaders arrested by the police should be produced before the Court. He said there was threat to their lives if they were in police custody, and warned that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Government will be held responsible if anything happens to them.
The police officials, including DGP Samabasiva Rao has earlier made it clear that RK, Gajarla Ravi and others were not in police custody. Initial reports said that RK and some other top leaders had escaped when the encounter took place. Police earlier said that though their target was RK, he had escaped safely from the site of encounter.
As the whereabouts of RK were not known and as his body was not there among those killed in the encounter, there were suspicions now that RK and other top Maoists were taken into custody by the police. It is said that the encounter was planned only after it became known that RK and other top leaders were camping there. As RK’s whereabouts were not known till now, leaders of revolutionary organizations were expressing concern about him.
Telangana Democratic Forum Convener Prof Haragopal, PL Vishweshwar Rao, Justice Chandrakumar, Jaini Malayya, Chikkudu Prabhakar, Bandi Durga Prasad and others also demanded that RK should be produced in a Court.
Combing Continues
Meanwhile, police continued combing operations on Thursday also in the Malkangiri forest area. Their target is RK and other top maoist leaders, it is said. Information indicates that heavy police force was deployed at the cut-off area near the Maoists’ den there
It is learnt that a body of another person was found today at Muraliguda Banda in Sukuma district. Maoists have left some posters at the body, it is learnt.
Meanwhile, CPI (M-L) New Democary Telangana State Committee Secretary S Venkateswara Rao has condemned the ‘murder’ of 23 Maoists in the Malkangiri forests and demanded a Judicial probe into the matter. (NSS)