Telangana government beefs up security alarmed by attempts of left-wing extremists

HYDERABAD: Telangana has provided bullet-proof vehicles to ministers and beefed up security in border districts, alarmed by the attempts of left-wing extremists to regain lost ground in the region. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi has also decided to further modernise the police force by earmarking substantial funds to counter infiltration by Maoists.

This marks a turnaround of sorts for the party which had till last year repeatedly dismissed the apprehensions over threat of Maoists once the new state was carved out.

"The Union home ministry has advised the Telangana government to augment its security forces, especially following the division of erstwhile elite anti-Maoist force Greyhounds, in the backdrop of reports on increasing attempts by the left-wing extremists for a steady comeback," said a top home ministry official, requesting not to be named.

The official said Maoists are taking advantage of inadequate combing by relatively weakened police in Telangana. "We have reports that the Maoists, whose top leadership is primarily from the Telangana region, are in a recuperation stage now and are making serious attempts towards inroads into north Telangana once again after a gap of more than a decade," he said.