Major Blow to Maoist Leadership as Senior Members Surrender in Telangana
The Maoist hierarchy in Telangana suffered a significant collapse on Tuesday as a group of high-ranking members, led by Thippiri Tirupathi, widely known as Devji, formally surrendered to police authorities. This development comes amid an intensified security campaign aimed at crippling the banned organization, aligning with the Union government's March 31 deadline to eradicate Naxalism across the nation.
Key Surrenders and Official Confirmation
Devji, a long-standing central committee member of the CPI (Maoist), turned himself in alongside three other senior figures, including central committee member Malla Raji Reddy, also called Sangram. While police sources had initially reported this breakthrough on February 22 in Asifabad district, Tuesday's appearance at the Integrated Command and Control Centre in Hyderabad served as the official confirmation. The surrenders were conducted before Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy.
Leadership Vacuum and Political Implications
DGP Reddy clarified that Devji was not the Maoist general secretary and emphasized that the outfit currently lacks a central leadership structure. "Since a central committee meeting could not take place, a general secretary has not been elected," he stated, adding that Devji might have been selected for the role if such a meeting had occurred. Devji had been widely anticipated to succeed as general secretary following the killing of Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, in May 2025.
Personal Motivations and Future Plans
Devji, aged 62, attributed his decision to failing health, expressing a desire to leave underground life and integrate into the mainstream. "Due to health reasons I have decided to leave underground life and join mainstream. It is not for personal convenience," he remarked. He declined further questions to avoid misunderstandings but affirmed his commitment to addressing people's issues within legal boundaries, continuing political work based on his ideology.
A native of Korutla in Jagtial district, Devji began his political journey as a student, joining the Radical Students Union and later the CPI(ML) People's War Group in 1982. Over 34 years underground, he ascended to key positions, including the central committee, central military commission, and politburo, serving as party spokesperson under the pseudonym 'Abhay.'
Other Surrendering Leaders and Their Stances
Another prominent figure, Raji Reddy, 76, from Shastrulapalle in Peddapally district and in charge of the Dandakaranya special zonal committee, also surrendered. While pledging to work for people legally, he indicated reluctance toward electoral politics. "I don't want to go into parliamentary system. I want to work for people within legal framework," he said, asserting that Maoism would persist and evolve.
Raji Reddy joined the RSU in 1974 and became a central committee member in 1990. Two additional leaders surrendered: Telangana state committee secretary Bade Chokka Rao, alias Damodar, 47, from Mulugu district, and state committee member Nune Narasimha Reddy, alias Ganganna, 62, originally from Guntur district. Both had extensive organizational and military roles across Telangana and neighboring regions for decades.
Rehabilitation and Police Assessment
Under the state's surrender and rehabilitation policy, police provided financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each to Devji and Raji Reddy, and Rs 20 lakh each to Damodar and Ganganna. DGP Reddy declared that Maoist activity in Telangana is now "non-existent." Since 2024, 591 cadres have surrendered in the state, including four central committee members and 16 state committee members, with 142 firearms seized.
"Only 11 Telangana natives remain underground, including Muppala Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapathi, and only one of them is active," the DGP noted, urging remaining cadres to surrender. He added that Ganapathi, inactive for an extended period, is suspected to be hiding in an urban area elsewhere in the country, with ongoing efforts to secure his surrender.
