Visakhapatnam: An intense combing operation by special police forces is currently underway in the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district bordering Odisha state to prevent Maoists from entering the district and to flush out those hiding from the police.

The operation in the district has been stepped up following an encounter in Y Ramavaram in which two top Maoist leaders Jagan and Ramesh were killed by the special police forces and another encounter in which the central committee member Nambala Kesava Rao was killed.

As per the protocol, the police have also issued an advisory to elected representatives to avoid unnecessary public gatherings and to inform them when they go out.

“We are using all kinds of technology to flush out the Maoists who have been hiding in the district and those who escaped from the encounter,” said ASR district SP Amit Bardar. He issued warning that they must surrender to the police or face the consequences.

Local Adivasi leaders said the combing operation was more concentrated in GK Veedhi, Munchingput, Chintapalli and Sileru areas. “But, the combing is not causing any inconvenience to the local people unlike in the past. Even tourists are visiting as usual,” said a local tribal leader D. Rama Rao from Paderu.

Recently the ASR district police arrested two Maoists while combing the forest near Thadika Vagu village of Mothugudem panchayat in Chinturu mandal. Additionally, 10 Maoists surrendered before the district superintendent of police. The arrested Maoists were identified as Madakam Manga, also known as Mangal, and Madivi Ramesh, alias Pradeep.

Another source said the district was no longer witnessing Maoist activities as the young Adivasis were seeking employment or business opportunities in the tourism sector.