Maoist sympathiser Gaddar alleges threat from police

Maoist sympathiser Gaddar alleges threat from police
Gaddar, whose real name is Gummadi Vittal Rao, has been using folk art forms of singing for over three decades to depict the suffering of peasants, labourers and other weaker sections.

By IANS, [RxPG] Hyderabad, Jan 3 - Fearing threat to his life from police, revolutionary balladeer and Maoist sympathiser Gaddar has urged the Andhra Pradesh governor to provide him with security.

Gaddar said he was facing threat to his life from police for raising his voice against the killing of Maoist guerrillas by police in 'fake' gun battles and for supporting the movement for separate statehood to Telangana region.

In a letter to Governor Rameswar Thakur, Gaddar sought protection saying that he was an ambassador for peace and was singing for the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Gaddar survived an assassination bid April 6, 1997 here. Two of the three bullets fired at him were removed while one was left untouched because of medical complications. The balladeer had blamed the police for the attack.

He received several threats in the last few years, Gaddar said. He alleged that the police were using surrendered Maoists to eliminate those fighting against 'police excesses'.

Gaddar, whose real name is Gummadi Vittal Rao, has been using folk art forms of singing for over three decades to depict the suffering of peasants, labourers and other weaker sections.

He had formed Praja Natya Mandali, which was seen as the cultural wing of then People's War Group. After emerging from self-imposed hiding for five years in 1990, he continued spreading revolutionary ideology through songs.

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