Hyderabad, Telangana: In a significant development in the fight against left-wing extremism, the Telangana police have announced that the surrender of top Maoist commander Badse Deva, along with 18 of his cadres, has effectively dismantled the military wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI) (Maoist) in the state. The announcement was made on Saturday by Telangana’s Director General of Police, B. Shivadhar Reddy, who emphasized that the surrender marks a historic blow to the insurgent organization’s operational capabilities in the region.

Deva, whose real name is Badse Sukka, hails from the Koya tribal community of Puvarthi village in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh. Aged 49, he was one of the most-wanted Maoist commanders and considered the second most influential tribal leader in the CPI (Maoist) after the late Madvi Hidma. Over the years, Deva had established himself as an expert in guerrilla warfare, explosives, and arms procurement, participating in numerous ambushes and attacks on security forces and political leaders. Notably, he was involved in the infamous Jheram Ghati attack, in which Congress minister Mahendra Karma and other leaders were killed.

Alongside Deva, senior Telangana state committee member Kankanala Raji Reddy, also known as Venkatesh, and 18 other cadres surrendered to the police. Reddy, aged 50, comes from Kishtampet village in Peddapalli district of Telangana. Having joined the CPI (ML) People’s War in April 1997, he rose to district committee membership in 2010 and state committee membership in 2019. According to the DGP, Raji Reddy played a pivotal role in building courier networks, mobilizing front organizations in Karimnagar and Warangal districts, and establishing guerrilla bases on the Karreguttalu hills, providing logistics and strategic support to party cadres.

The surrenders have left only 17 active Maoist members in Telangana, with merely one state committee member and four area committee members currently operational. With the departure of Deva and Raji Reddy, the Telangana state committee has been reduced to a single member, Bade Chokka Rao, also known as Damodar. Despite this, Telangana still holds strategic importance within the Maoist organization, as four out of seven central committee members of the party hail from the state.

During a press briefing, DGP Reddy highlighted the strategic and operational significance of Deva’s surrender. “The surrender of Badse Deva has virtually eliminated the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), the military wing of the CPI (Maoist) party, in Telangana,” he said. “Similarly, with the surrender of Raji Reddy, the Telangana state committee has been pushed to the brink of collapse, leaving only a single member active.”

The surrendered Maoist cadres handed over a substantial cache of weapons, including two light machine guns (LMGs), one US-made Colt rifle, one Israel-made Tavor rifle, eight AK-47 rifles, ten INSAS rifles, eight SLR rifles, four BGLs, 11 single-shot weapons, two grenades, and an air gun. Additionally, 2,206 rounds of ammunition of various calibres were recovered, some of which were linked to the operations of the notorious Maoist leader Madvi Hidma.

Deva’s leadership had been central to the Maoists’ operations in South Bastar and later in Telangana. Following heavy police operations in 2024, the CPI (Maoist) leadership, including state secretary Devji, Madvi Hidma, Chandranna, and Damoder, relocated to the Karreguttalu hills (KGH) for security. Deva was entrusted with overseeing security and logistics for the PLGA’s first battalion, ensuring the safe movement of cadres and arms amidst intense combing operations conducted by thousands of security personnel.

The surrender of Deva and his cadres is expected to significantly weaken the Maoists’ operational capabilities and disrupt their strategic planning in Telangana. “An expert in military strategies, procurement of explosives, and manufacturing of firearms and IEDs, Deva had reorganized PLGA formations in KGH, shielding the party from major losses during security operations,” the DGP said. Deva carried a bounty of ₹75 lakh announced by both the state and central governments.

Kankanala Raji Reddy, similarly, was instrumental in strengthening the Maoist infrastructure in Telangana. He was credited with establishing a reliable guerrilla base, organizing logistics, and creating an efficient courier network across Karimnagar and Warangal districts. His surrender further debilitates the Maoist presence and dismantles critical operational nodes within the state committee.

Security experts have described the surrender as a turning point in Telangana’s counter-insurgency operations. The loss of key leaders and active cadres is likely to hamper the CPI (Maoist) party’s ability to conduct large-scale ambushes, recruit new members, or sustain existing guerrilla bases in the state. While the party retains some presence at the central committee level, the operational control in Telangana has been significantly compromised.

The Telangana police have emphasized that rehabilitation and surrender-cum-rehabilitation programs played a crucial role in persuading Deva and his associates to abandon insurgency. Such initiatives aim to reintegrate former cadres into mainstream society, offering vocational training, employment opportunities, and financial support. The surrender not only undermines the Maoists’ operational capacity but also provides an opportunity to rehabilitate former combatants and reduce long-term conflict in the region.

The surrender of Deva and other cadres also has symbolic significance. As one of the last remaining strongholds of the CPI (Maoist) in Telangana, the collapse of the PLGA’s military wing marks a major victory for state security forces and underscores the success of coordinated intelligence-driven operations, community engagement, and sustained police action over several years.

In conclusion, the surrender of Badse Deva and Kankanala Raji Reddy signals a historic blow to the Maoist insurgency in Telangana. The dismantling of the PLGA and the near-collapse of the state committee are expected to weaken the party’s influence, reduce violent incidents, and pave the way for more comprehensive counter-insurgency and rehabilitation initiatives in the region. The Telangana police, under DGP B Shivadhar Reddy, have hailed the development as a milestone in the ongoing effort to eliminate left-wing extremism from the state and restore normalcy to affected areas.