Bandi Sanjay warns T’gana leaders against links with Maoists

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has issued a stern warning to political leaders in Telangana over alleged support for armed Maoist groups. Sharing a media report on social media platform X, he cited revelations from Maoist central committee member Mallojula Venkata Rao, alias Bhupati, who recently surrendered to Maharashtra police. Venkata Rao reportedly claimed that some Telangana political leaders had secretly maintained ties with Maoists.

Bandi Sanjay warned Telangana politicians, saying that any public support for armed networks in the name of democracy would be unacceptable. He emphasized that such connections must be immediately severed, or they risk being exposed. “Central agencies will not hesitate to act against those with links to Maoist cadres,” he added.

He further stated that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the government is determined to identify and eliminate the nexus of corruption, crime, and terrorism without leniency.

The minister made it clear that anyone, regardless of their political stature, acting against national security would not be spared. He highlighted the case of Mallojula Venkata Rao (alias Bhupati/Sonu), a central committee member of CPI (Maoist) with a reward of ₹6 crore, who recently surrendered in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, along with 60 other cadres.

Crackdown on Maoists India’s security forces have intensified operations against Maoists in recent years. From 2015 to 2025, more than 10,000 Maoists surrendered to the government across the country. In 2025 alone, around 1,040 Maoists gave up arms and reintegrated into mainstream society. In Chhattisgarh, 210 Maoists - including 111 women - recently surrendered in a large-scale event. Similarly, 61 Maoists laid down arms in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.

Security operations have also resulted in the deaths of over 250 Maoists in encounters in recent years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have announced that the government aims to completely eliminate Maoist influence in India by March 31, 2026.