NEW DELHI, Nov 22: Thirty-seven underground members of the banned CPI (Maoist), also called the Naxalites, including three senior State Committee Members, returned to the mainstream in Hyderabad on Saturday in what police described as one of the most substantial setbacks to the outfit in recent years.
All individuals were presented before the Telangana Police, marking the culmination of years of sustained pressure, dwindling organisational cohesion and rising ideological fatigue within Maoist ranks.
The three senior leaders who came out are Koyyada Sambaiah known as Azad (49), a native of Moddulagudem in Govindaraopet mandal of Mulugu district who had been underground for thirty one years and served as State Committee Member and Secretary of the BK ASR Divisional Committee; Appasi Narayana known as Ramesh (70), a native of Ramagundam in Peddapalli district who spent thirty two years underground and served as State Committee Member and in charge of the Technical Department of the Telangana State Committee; and Muchaki Somada known as Erra (42), a native of Penta village in the Jagargunda police station limits of Sukma district, who served as State Committee Member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee and Secretary of the South Bastar DVC.
Seven cadres belonging to the KM Divisional Committee surrendered their weapons during the process, handing over eight firearms including one AK 47 rifle, two SLRs, four .303 rifles and one G3 rifle, along with 346 rounds of ammunition. The seven cadres are Nupo Ganga Neelesh (25), Madavi Sukka (25), Kartam Motu (22), Uike Bicche known as Saritha (19), Punem Ungi (23), Abka Raimothi known as Rony (20) and Kudium Deve known as Roshini (21).
Other cadres from BK ASR DVC include Sodi Sukki (20), Sodi Paiki (20) and Sodi Hiduma (17). From the South Bastar DVC of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, those who returned include Muchaki Somada known as Erra (42), Madavi Sona (38), Hemla Adume known as Reena (35), Muchaki Ura known as Lalsu (22), Kudam Laxmi known as Reetha (22), Sodi Somidi (24), Podiyam Mase (26), Paddam Rainu (25), Karam Mangli (32), Madivi Manklee (21), Kunjam Kamala (18), Podiyam Joga (20), Midyam Malle (22), Veko Kosi (22), Uke Ranitha (22), Sodi Mangi (25), Uike Ratna (20), Vetti Jogi known as Raini (22), Oyam Lali (22), Modiyam Roni (21), Korsa Lakme (21), Kalumu Ungi (20) and Hemla Bheemi (20).
From the PLGA First Battalion, two cadres returned: Madvi Kosa known as Ramesh (26) who served as CyPCM and Platoon B Commander of HQ Company, and Nupo Sukki (23), a PPCM and Section B Commander of HQ Coy.
DGP Shivadhar Reddy said the collective decision of the 37 cadres was influenced by the Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s appeal on 21 October urging Maoist cadres to renounce violence and return to civilian life. Officers added that sustained operations, ideological disagreements, internal rifts and constant mobility restrictions had contributed to the weakening of the CPI (Maoist) across the region.
Under the state’s rehabilitation policy, cash rewards due on their heads have been formally disbursed. Sambaiah, Narayana and Somada will each receive ₹20 lakh. Cadres of DVCM or CyPCM rank will receive ₹5 lakh, ACMs and PPCMs ₹4 lakh, and party members ₹1 lakh. Additional compensation has been sanctioned for surrendered weapons in line with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines. In total, ₹1.41 crore has been handed over through cheques and demand drafts, with further support to follow.
The officer added that 465 underground cadres have disengaged from the CPI (Maoist) in 2025, including two Central Committee Members, eleven State Committee Members, two Divisional Committee Secretaries, eleven DVCMs and forty four ACMs. Police described this as evidence of the outfit’s diminishing operational strength and declining ideological appeal.
Officials noted that as of now, 49 underground cadres of the CPI (Maoist) are natives of Telangana, though only a small fraction remain active in the Telangana State Committee. Many others are operating in Chhattisgarh and neighbouring regions.
The DGP reiterated the state’s appeal for remaining cadres to return to their villages, reunite with their families and take part in the development of Telangana, assuring full rehabilitation support for those willing to abandon armed activity and reintegrate into civil society.
(Manas Dasgupta)
