Senior Maoist Leaders Surrender in Telangana: A Major Blow to Extremist Movement

The DGP stated that 412 Maoists had surrendered to the Telangana police in 2025 alone.

Hyderabad:

Three senior State Committee Members (SCMs) of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) surrendered before Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) B Shivadhar Reddy in Hyderabad on Friday, marking a significant setback for the extremist organization.

This development is considered a substantial moral victory for the state's comprehensive anti-Maoist strategy and indicates the continuing decline of the extremist movement in the region.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, DGP B Shivadhar Reddy described the surrenders as a major blow to the Maoist movement, reflecting growing awareness among its cadres that their ideology has lost relevance. He emphasized that the party has become disconnected from its armed struggle and faces internal conflicts and ideological divisions.

The DGP referenced a recent statement by CPI (Maoist) Politburo member Mallojula Venugopal, alias Sonu, who admitted the party had lost direction. DGP Reddy called this statement "significant" and indicative of changing perspectives within the extremist organization.

"The Maoist leadership is predominantly comprised of individuals from Telangana, with 8 out of 12 Central Committee Members being natives of the state," DGP Reddy noted.

"Telangana is their Janmabhoomi (birthplace) but is no longer their Karmabhoomi (workplace) for the Maoists."

The DGP highlighted the scale of the state's success, revealing that 412 Maoists had surrendered to Telangana police in 2025 alone. Approximately 90% of these surrenders involve Maoists from Chhattisgarh, indicating the Telangana policy's significant impact across state boundaries.

Reddy attributed the increase in surrenders to multiple factors: the state's effective surrender and rehabilitation policy, operational since 1991 and now emulated by other states, along with intensified counter-insurgency operations like Operation Kagar along interstate borders.

"We actively encourage surrenders, and more individuals are expressing interest in surrendering," DGP Reddy stated. He assured that the government would provide all benefits, including a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh each, to help them "rebuild their life with dignity and security".

DGP Shivadhar Reddy expressed optimism about this trend continuing, confidently asserting, "Maoist extremism is definitely declining. We anticipate more surrenders in the near future, and there is absolutely no possibility of Maoists regrouping in Telangana."

He appealed to the remaining 72 underground cadres native to Telangana to rejoin mainstream society, reiterating the Telangana Police's message: "poru voddhu - Ooru muddhu!!" (Reject war, embrace the village).

The surrendered leaders are:

Kunkati Venkataiah (52), known by aliases Ramesh and Vikas, a native of Siddipet district who spent 36 years underground and served as in-charge of the South Bastar Divisional Committee (DVC) under the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC).

Mogilicherla Venkatraju (45), known by aliases Raju and Chandu, a native of Hanumakonda district who spent 35 years underground and was in-charge of the Chetna Natya Manch (CNM) in DKSZC.

Thodem Ganga (42), known by aliases Gangavva and Sony, a native of Chhattisgarh who spent 21 years underground and served as in-charge of Janathana Sarkar, South Bastar DVC.

All three were key figures in the CPI (Maoist) structure, having dedicated decades to the armed struggle.