Special police forces during a search operation at a Maoist hideout in New Auto Nagar on the outskirts of Vijayawada on Tuesday. | Photo credit: KVS GIRI
The Organization for Anti-Terrorism Operations (OCTOPUS) and police personnel arrested 51 Maoists in several districts of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.
It is said to be the first such major arrest from urban areas in a single day.
The arrests were made during search operations in Maoist hideouts in Krishna, Eluru, NTR, Kakinada and Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema.
Police arrested 28 Maoists in Krishna, 15 in Elur, five in NTR, two in Kakinada and one in Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema.
The OCTOPUS teams also seized huge stocks of ammunition, cash and other material from the arrested Maoists. “The search is on for those who escaped,” the police said.
“We have been monitoring Maoist movements in Andhra Pradesh. Acting on information that top leaders were entering the state, police teams cracked down on Maoists, killing six and arresting more than 50,” said Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha.
“Due to continuous operations in Chhattisgarh and other states and the Andhra-Odisa Border (AOB), Maoists are trying to shift their hideouts to cities and urban areas. We have seized some arms from the arrested Maoists. The search for Maoist dumps is on,” Mr. Laddha told The Hindu.
Krishna District Superintendent of Police V. Vidya Sagar Naidu was addressing the media after the arrest of Maoists in New Auto Nagar on Tuesday. | Photo credit: KVS GIRI
Krishna District Superintendent of Police V. Vidya Sagar Naidu said 28 Maoists, including 21 women, were arrested from a private house in Penamaluru mandal.
“The nine-member security staff of CPI (Maoist) General Secretary Thippiri Tirupati and Dalam Hidma members are among those arrested,” the SP said.
Eluru area SP K. Pratap Shiva Kishore said 15 Maoists hiding in a private building in Green City on the outskirts of Eluru were arrested in the early hours.
“For the last few days we have been watching their movement and have arrested four women Maoists and 11 Hidma dalam members,” said Mr. Pratap Shiva Kishore.
Published – 18 Nov 2025 20:12 IST
