Rocket launchers for Maoists 'made in Chennai'

Hyderabad, Sep 10: The CPI(Maoist) party's links in the southern states have come to light again with the seizure of 42 rocket launchers, 1000 empty shells, 35 improvised landmines in Mahabubnagar, and ten rocket launchers with stands and 275 rocket shells in Prakasham district.

It is being suspected that they were all manufactured in the industrial belt on the outskirts of Chennai city, according to police sources.

The alleged involvement of Kranti Transport company also came to light for transporting the consignment. The transport officials said the consignement, from which the explosives were seized by Mahabubnagar police, were booked at Chennai for Mahbubnagar. Another consignment was found at the transport office in Prakasham district. The documents showed that the consignment was booked at Kadapa on June 3 and delivered on June 5 to one Srinivas Reddy.

However, the consignment was not claimed due to police surveillance. The police strongly suspect that the consignment reached Prakasham district from Pondichery or Chennai via Kadapa.

The Maoists have been active in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, if the arrest of important leaders like Sakamuri Appa Rao in Karnataka in 1998, three Central Committee leaders Adi Reddy, Santosh Reddy and Naresh is any indication.

They were allegedly picked up from the outskirts of Bangalore in 1999. Later, the police said they were killed in an encounter in Koyyuru in Karimnagar. Saketh Rajan, Karnataka state Maoist Party Secretary was killed in an encounter in Chikmangalore in Karnataka in 2005.

UNI