No Maoist hold on Srikakulam, say police

SRIKAKULAM: Superintendent of Police KVV Gopala Rao on Saturday said that Maoist activities were on a decline. In the last three years, no Maoist violence was reported in the district. Speaking to Express, Rao said Srikakulam has been more peaceful this year compared to Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts where Maoists killed tribal youths and others.Maoists , he said, have not recruited tribal youths in the   recent past.  “Youths did not turn up for the week-long Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army(PLGA) week celebrations held in AOB recently,” he said. About 300 constables of various wings and 80 armed reserves joined the police force  in 2011 while 225 more personnel are likely to join in 2012, he said. Srikakulam was declared a Naxal-affected region in Dec recently under which above Rs 5,00 crores will be released to create infrastructure facilities in tribal areas.  "The funds will be spent on improving transportation,  communication and basic amenities in Agency," he said. On the murder of 10-year-old Swathi at Narasannapeta, he said the accused was still at large. Reining in domestic violence and violence against children are the immediate concerns of police, he said.