Hyderabad, Dec 30 (IANS) Maoists are trying to resurface in Andhra Pradesh in a big way, the state police chief warned Wednesday but assured that police were keeping “utmost guard and vigil”.
Director General of Police R.R. Girish Kumar told a news conference here that police were keeping “utmost guard and vigil” to thwart Maoists’ attempts.

“There is a move (by Maoists) to resurface in Andhra Pradesh in a big way. Any such attempt will be repulsed with all the force at our command,” he said.

Claiming that Maoist activity in the state had ebbed to the lowest in over a decade, the DGP said police remained vigilant in view of the developments in neighbouring states.

“We are monitoring their activities across the border. We hope to reverse any effort to cross over and set up bases in the state,” said Girish Kumar.

He claimed to have received information about Maoists trying to regroup in Karimnagar, Adilabad and Warangal districts.

Andhra Pradesh, a former stronghold of Maoists, registered only 56 incidents of Maoist violence during 2009, against 96 last year. The number of incidents was as high as 576 in 2005.

No policeman was killed during 2009 while 34 policemen were killed last year. The number of civilians killed has come down to 15 from 45 last year.

The police chief said 13 Maoists were killed, 326 arrested and 91 surrendered during the year.