In a significant development, the CPI (Maoist) footprint in Telangana has contracted to its smallest size in decades, with the underground organization now reduced to a mere 16 members, including both leaders and cadres. This assessment comes from the latest police evaluation, which is based on interrogation reports of recently arrested and surrendered Maoists.
Police Assessment Reveals Drastic Decline
According to authorities, the revised strength includes four central committee members (CCMs). The count recently dipped from 17 after one cadre died. Officials have described this assessment as the most accurate to date, prepared after extensive interrogation inputs and meticulous cross-verification processes.
Verification Removes 'Missing' Names
Police reported that several names previously listed on Maoist rolls as "missing" or untraceable have been removed following fresh verification. Many of these individuals had either abandoned the movement decades ago or could no longer be linked to the organization. A senior Telangana police official explained, "It was 54 cadres a few years ago and now it got reduced to 16. Interestingly, some of the cadres who left the Maoist party in the 1990s were continued in the wanted list as their whereabouts were not known. We also verified with family members, and they had no information about these missing cadres. Surrendered Maoists also said they were not in the party."
Similar Decline in Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh
The reassessment has uncovered a parallel decline in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, where Maoist cadre strength has dwindled to just 12 members, according to police statements. This indicates a broader trend of diminishing Maoist influence across the region.
Updated Wanted List in Telangana
The updated wanted list in Telangana features senior Maoist leaders, including:
- Muppala Lakshman Rao alias Ganapathi (70), now an adviser to the Central Committee
- Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji, a CCM and general secretary-designate of CPI (Maoist)
- Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram, CCM
- Pusnunoori Narahari, CCM
- Muppidi Sambaiah, who holds state committee member (SCM) rank
- Vartha Sekhar
- Loketi Chander Rao
- Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar, Telangana State Committee secretary
Police have also identified U Anil Kumar as the computer operator of Devji and included him in the wanted list.
Andhra Pradesh Wanted List Details
In Andhra Pradesh, the wanted list comprises 12 Maoists, all natives of the state but none currently operating within its borders. Among them is Nune Narasimha Reddy alias Jampanna, a native of Guntur district, who now serves as a special zonal committee member in Dandakaranya. Others include Chalasani Navatha, Baddam Babu Rao, Kakarala Madhavi, and Meesala Solomon, among others.
A senior Andhra police official noted, "Currently, none of the Maoists is operating in Andhra. But there are 12 Andhra natives who are working in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and elsewhere. There are no CCMs in this list as all of them died in an exchange of fire."
The official further elaborated, "Recently, we found Suresh alias Chelluru Narayana Rao, an SCM, who was operating in Andhra-Odisha border areas on the Odisha side along with 3 cadres who joined from Chhattisgarh. He escaped an exchange of fire in Odisha a few days ago. After the death of Uday, he became the chief of the AOB Maoist committee."
This comprehensive police assessment underscores the ongoing efforts to combat Maoist insurgency and highlights the significant reduction in their operational strength across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
