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Visakhapatnam rural police arrested an assistant professor of Andhra University in the early hours of Thursday for allegedly facilitating procurement of explosives including 300 kg of ammonium nitrate for the East Visakha Division of CPI (Maoists).
Dr Jarla Appa Rao, head of the varsity’s Telugu Department and a tribal rights activist, was nabbed at 2 am from the staff quarters on campus. Vizag Rural SP Dr Koya Praveen told The Indian Express that they had evidence that Rao mediated with mine owners on behalf of Maoist leaders. “Dr Rao met mine owners and gave them lists of things that the Maoists demanded to allow mining operations to continue,” he said.
SP Praveen added that it was a quid pro quo arrangement that Dr Rao was actively involved in and he encouraged mine owners and contractors to fulfill the Maoists demands. “In the past, Dr Rao had supplied cell phones, camera flashes, batteries, hearing aids to the rebels. This time he was involved in facilitating procurement of explosive material like ammonium nitrate, cordex wires, and detonators. He was using contacts within the mining industry who had licenses to purchase explosives and the material was pilfered along the way. These materials were supplied to the Maoists through several intermediaries. Whether he did it under pressure or not, it is a serious offence for a professor and a government servant,” he added.
The SP added that three others involved in procuring and transporting the explosives were arrested two days ago. The cache of 500 electronic detonators and 300kg of ammonium nitrate, a tablet and three cell phones was recovered from Narsipatnam, he said.
Of the three persons arrested, two said Dr Rao was knew how and where the explosives were procured from, said police sources. “We also came to know that there was a godown at Kathipudi in East Godavari district from where explosives were pilfered. On Wednesday night, one police team went to raid the godown while another went to bring Dr Rao for interrogation. We could not wait till morning because Dr Rao was already aware that the explosives cache had been was caught by police and he may have escaped,” SP Praveen said, adding that call records show Dr Rao was regularly in touch with representatives of the Maoists.
Meanwhile, the sudden arrest of Dr Rao has drawn criticism from academicians, students and tribal organisations. Hundreds of students and teachers of the varsity demonstrated outside the SP’s office in Vizag demanding his immediate release. The varsity’s teacher and student outfits have called for a university bandh Friday.
Prof Yohan Babu said Dr Rao inspired students from backward communities and was popular on the campus.
Student leader K Kanta Rao said Dr Rao helped poor students. “He is also a good guide and assists students in choosing research subjects,” he added. Rao’s colleague Prof D V R Murthy said he had a clean record. “His arrest is a big surprise because we are not aware of his alleged Maoist connections,’’ he said.
The college teacher was also a tribal rights activist and regularly attended meetings of several outfits working in the field.
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