In a significant development for security forces in Telangana, the state's Director General of Police (DGP), Shivadhar Reddy, announced the surrender of 41 Maoist cadres on Friday. The event, which took place in Asifabad, also saw the handing over of a substantial cache of 24 firearms, including high-caliber weapons like 3 AK-47 rifles and 5 Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs).
DGP Exposes Maoist Leadership's Strategy
While announcing the surrenders, DGP Shivadhar Reddy made a startling revelation about the current strategy of the banned CPI (Maoist) party's top leadership. He stated that the leadership is allegedly directing its underground members to "lie low" and relocate to unfamiliar territories. This directive is reportedly to last until the March 2026 deadline of the ongoing Operation Kagar in neighboring Chhattisgarh.
The police chief explained that the Maoist leadership has been justifying this move to its cadre by claiming that police operations will slow down after March 31, 2026, allowing them to return to their forest bases safely. "The Maoist party leadership, by ignoring the views of its cadre, is sending them to unfamiliar places. This is being done by the remaining leadership to protect their resources," Reddy stated. However, this strategy backfired, leading to the disillusionment and subsequent surrender of the 41 individuals.
Profile of the Surrendered Cadres
Among those who laid down their arms is Erragolla Ravi, a native of Kamareddy district in Telangana. Ravi had served as a divisional committee member and spent a staggering 24 years as an underground cadre. Only two of the 41 who surrendered are from Telangana, indicating the widespread reach of the Maoist network and the success of interstate operations.
DGP Reddy provided crucial intelligence on the current strength of Maoists from Telangana. He confirmed that 54 persons from the state are still working as underground cadres for the CPI (Maoist). This number includes five influential central committee members and eight state committee members.
Appeal for Surrender and Rehabilitation
Stating that Operation Kagar in Chhattisgarh is likely to continue with intensity, DGP Shivadhar Reddy made a fervent appeal to the remaining Maoists. He urged them to surrender immediately and not wait for the 2026 deadline. The police have assured a safe passage and proper rehabilitation for all those who choose to abandon the path of violence.
In a targeted outreach, Reddy mentioned that efforts are being made to contact Telangana state committee secretary Damodar through his family members, encouraging him to surrender. The DGP also directly appealed to the five central committee members hailing from Telangana to follow suit and lay down their arms.
This mass surrender represents a major setback for the Maoist infrastructure in the region and highlights the growing effectiveness of sustained police operations coupled with surrender policies. The security establishment views this as a positive step towards eradicating Left Wing Extremism from the state.
