47 Maoist Cadres Surrender Before Telangana Police, 32 Firearms Seized

In a significant development, 47 underground CPI (Maoist) cadres surrendered before the Telangana Police on Saturday, handing over 32 firearms and explosive material, Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy said.

Among those who laid down arms was Hemla Iythu alias Vijja , a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee and in-charge of the South Bastar Divisional Committee . All the surrendered cadres are natives of Chhattisgarh .

The recovered weapons include four AK-47 rifles , one Light Machine Gun (LMG) and three SLR rifles . Police also seized 10 bundles (around 100 kg) of cordtex wire , commonly used in landmines.

The DGP said the cadres chose to return to the mainstream following an appeal by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy , and were influenced by the government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy . The policy offers financial assistance, livelihood opportunities, housing support and protection, enabling former extremists to reintegrate into society. He added that the supportive approach of the Telangana Police further built confidence among them.

Describing it as a major breakthrough, Reddy said this could be among the last significant surrenders , though a few remaining cadres may follow suit.

He noted that 818 Maoists have surrendered before the Telangana Police since March 2024. Over the past two years, security forces have recovered 334 weapons , including 58 AK-47 rifles , six LMGs, a US-made Colt rifle and an Israel-made Tavor CQB weapon. An investigation is underway into how such foreign-made weapons reached Maoist hands.

Reddy said Telangana has already been declared Maoist-free , while south Chhattisgarh is also nearing that stage. Only four active underground cadres from Telangana remain in Maoist formations outside the state, compared to 125 in 2023. He appealed to them to surrender and join the mainstream.

The remaining cadres include Muppala Laxman Rao alias Ganapathi and Pasanuri Narahari , both Central Committee members, and Jade Ratna Bai and Vartha Shekhar , who are State Committee members.

The DGP added that the Maoists’ People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion is now almost non-existent.On reports of a Maoist letter branding surrendered leaders as “betrayers,” he said such claims are not new and the authenticity of the letter is being verified.