Devuji, Raji Reddy and other top maoists surrender before Telangana police; only one central committee member active

Four of the most senior underground leaders of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) surrendered before the Telangana police, expressing their intent to join the mainstream in the presence of Telangana Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy on Tuesday (February 24, 2026).

Those who renounced armed struggle include politburo member (PBM) and central committee member (CCM) Tippiri Thirupati alias Devuji alias Kumma Dada; CCM Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram; Telangana State Committee (TSC) secretary Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar alias Jagan; and State Committee member (SCM) Nune Narsimha Reddy alias Ganganna alias Sannu Dada.

Addressing the media in Hyderabad, Mr. Shivadhar Reddy said that Devuji had been underground for 44 years, Raji Reddy for 46 years, Damodar for 28 years and Narsimha Reddy for 36 years. The DGP described the development as a “decisive setback” to the Maoist organisation.

With the of a Politburo Member and a Central Committee Member i, the party’s last surviving apex organisational structure has effectively collapsed, he said. The Telangana State Committee has also been rendered defunct following the surrender of its Secretary and a State Committee Member.

Only one active member in Maoist central committee

Mr. Shivadhar Reddy said that the central committee of the CPI (Maoist) has now been reduced to just one active member, signalling what they termed an imminent organisational collapse.

Devuji joined movement in 1980s

He said that Tippiri Thirupati alias Devuji (62), a native of Korutla in Jagtial district, joined the movement in the early 1980s after being active in student politics. Over the decades, he rose through the ranks, serving as commander in Dandakaranya squads, later becoming a Central Committee Member and eventually a Politburo Member. He also functioned as in-charge of the Central Military Commission and served as the organisation’s spokesperson under the pseudonym ‘Abhay’.

Raji Reddy’s association with movement since 1970s

Malla Raji Reddy (76), from Peddapally district, was associated with the movement since the 1970s. He played a key role in Dandakaranya operations, served in the Regional Bureau, and was elevated to the Politburo in 2007. He had also been arrested in the past and returned to underground activities after his release.

Bade Chokka Rao (47), from Mulugu district, rose through the ranks from area committee assignments to become Secretary of the Telangana State Committee in January 2025. Nune Narsimha Reddy (62), originally from the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, worked extensively in political education wings and later served in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee before being shifted to Telangana.

The surrenders were also attributed to widening ideological differences, internal rifts and shrinking support bases within the Maoist ranks. Continuous security operations have disrupted networks and logistics and reduced mobility.

The DGP also recalled the appeal made by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in October 2025, urging Maoist cadres to shun violence and join the development process in the State. He urged the remaining cadre also to surrender. The four leaders’ decision, he said, reflected a conscious shift toward a peaceful and dignified life within the constitutional framework.

544 underground cadres surrendered in 2025 and 2026

A note shared by the police revealed that 544 underground cadres, including four Central Committee Members, 15 State Committee Members, 25 Divisional Committee Secretaries, 63 Area Committee Members and 437 party members, have surrendered in 2025 and 2026.

Under the State’s rehabilitation policy, Thirupati (Devuji) and Raji Reddy were each eligible for a reward of ₹25 lakh, while Damodar and Narsimha Reddy were eligible for ₹20 lakh each. The total amount of ₹90 lakh was disbursed through cheques and demand drafts as part of the State and Central rehabilitation scheme.

The DGP reaffirmed that all benefits under the policy would be extended to enable the former leaders to rebuild their lives with dignity and security. He also commended the Special Intelligence Branch for its sustained efforts leading to what officials termed one of the most significant surrenders in recent year.