Maoists gun down forest officer in coffee farm

VISAKHAPATNAM: Suspected Left-wing extremists gunned down a 52-year-old  Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) Ranger Majji Madhava Rao who along with his team of seven persons were inspecting Lankapakala coffee plantations in GK Veedhi mandal in the district on Wednesday. The murder has triggered angry reactions from the field staff of the Forest department, who demanded immediate action against the Maoists.According to sources, two Maoists belonging to Korukonda area committee  went to coffee plantations at Lankapakala forests, inquired about Madhava Rao and fled from the scene after opening fire at Rao  at him at close range. Police said Maoists had been demanding distribution of coffee plantations to tribals in the agency areas in the district for the last few years. Police said as the government did not implement their demands, Maoists killed Madhava Rao, a resident of Sukuru of Hukkumpeta mandal. Police said three officials including Revenue Divisional Officer KRP Prasada Rao of Visakha agency were abducted and later released by Maoists belonging to the Korukonda area committee at Balapam village of Chintapalle mandal on August 17 this year, demanding withdrawal of police cases against tribals involved in the distribution of coffee plantations to the locals of Balapam Panchayat of Chintapalle mandal in November last year. Maoists, however, released officials after warning them of dire consequences if police cases filed against the tribals involved in APFDC’s coffee plantations were not withdrawn. Police cases had been filed against 86 persons, involved in the  illegal occupation of coffee plantations during November last year but police say cases will not be withdrawn until those persons surrender.