Maoist command crumbles in T as Devji among top seniors surrender

Hyderabad: The Maoist top hierarchy crumbled in Telangana as a clutch of senior members led by Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devji surrendered to police Tuesday, amid a strong security push that's suffocating the proscribed outfit to meet Union govt's March 31 deadline to end the Naxalism nationwide.Devji, a long-time central committee (CC) member of CPI (Maoist), turned himself in along with three other senior figures, including CC member Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram. On Feb 22, police sources had reported a breakthrough when Devji and others laid down arms in Asifabad district. Tuesday's appearance was the official confirmation.
The surrenders took place before DGP B Shivadhar Reddy at the Integrated Command and Control Centre in Hyderabad.The DGP said Devji was not the Maoist general secretary and that the outfit currently lacks a central leadership. "Since a CC meeting could not take place, a general secretary has not been elected," he said, adding that Devji may have been chosen had such a meeting occurred.Devji had been widely tipped to succeed as general secretary after the killing of Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju in May 2025.Devji, 62, cited failing health for quitting underground life. Devji declined questions, saying early comments could be misunderstood. "Due to health reasons I have decided to leave underground life and join mainstream. It is not for personal convenience," he said. "I will continue to work towards addressing people's problems within legal framework," he added, insisting he would continue political work rooted in his ideology.A native of Korutla in Jagtial district, Devji entered politics as a student, joined Radical Students Union, served as RSU president for Karimnagar district, and later CPI(ML) People's War Group in 1982. Over 34 years underground, he rose to the CC, central military commission and politburo, and served as party spokesperson under the pseudonym ‘Abhay.'Another prominent leader, Raji Reddy, 76, from Shastrulapalle in Peddapally district and in charge of the Dandakaranya special zonal committee, also surrendered. While pledging legal work for people, he signalled reluctance toward electoral politics. "I don't want to go into parliamentary system. I want to work for people within legal framework," he said. "Maoism will not end. It will keep developing," he said. Raji Reddy joined the RSU in 1974 and became a CC member in 1990. Two others — 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 — also surrendered. Both held organisational and military roles across Telangana and adjoining regions for decades.Police handed over Rs 25 lakh each to Devji and Raji Reddy and Rs 20 lakh each to Damodar and Ganganna under the state's surrender and rehabilitation policy.The DGP said Maoist activity in Telangana is "non-existent". Since 2024, 591 cadres have surrendered in Telangana, including four CC members and 16 state committee members, and 142 firearms have been seized."Only 11 Telangana natives remain underground, including Muppala Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapathi and only one of them is active," the DGP said, urging remaining cadres to surrender. He said Ganapathi, inactive for a long period, is believed to be hiding in an urban area somewhere in the country and that efforts to secure his surrender will continue.