The People's War Group (PWG), banned by the Centre Wednesday, is the most dreaded naxalite outfit in Andhra Pradesh leading an armed struggle for the last two decades with its history being littered with macabre operations, targeting top politicians and police officials. Founded in 1980 as a splinter group of CPI (M-L) by legendary revolutionary leader Kondapalli Seetharamaiah, the extremist organisation has, over years, spread its activities to nine states, including the neighbouring Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
With the present estimated strength of over 3,000 armed Dalam members, the PWG has been letting lose a reign of terror in the state, particularly in its stronghold Telangana region which has been declared by the outlawed outfit as a special guerilla zone. After his dramatic arrest near Vijayawada in March 1993, the founder leader of the organisation Seetharamaiah, known in the revolutionary circles as "KS", is now leading a reclusive life while his rival faction headed by Ganapathi now has a vice-like grip over the organisation.
Known for its ruthless operations, the PWG has eliminated about 200 policemen and 125 politicians, belonging to various parties, since 1997, according to official sources.
The extremist organisation's biggest strike came in March last year when the Panchayatraj minister a Madhav Reddy was killed in a landmine blast at Ghatkesar on the city outskirts. It was the first time in its two-decade old armed movement that PWG had targeted a minister.
Bureau Report