In a massive blow to the Communist Party of India (Maoist), one of its top leaders, Narasimha Reddy alias Jampanna, surrendered to the Telangana police on Saturday along with his wife Rajitha.
The Central Committee (CC) member was in-charge of the Andhra-Odisha Special Zonal Committee, and carried a reward of Rs 24 lakh in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, according to reports.
Addressing reporters, Mahbubabad District Superintendent of Police N Koti Reddy said that this was a “shot in the arm for security forces.”
“For more than 20 years, this man was responsible for strengthening the Maoist movement in North Telangana districts and adjoining Dandakaranya area. He is very strong, both ideologically and in terms of military strategy,” an official told Indian Express.
A native of Warangal, Jampanna surrendered in the presence of Telangana DGP Mahender Reddy.
According to reports, he was one of the first to join the erstwhile People’s War Group at Eturunagaram more than 30 years ago, and was known to be an expert in military operations, which eventually put him in charge of the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) division of the banned outfit.
The police said that he was working on the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border for a long time.
He led Maoists in the 2008 Nayagarh armoury loot and the 2004 Koraput district armoury attack that provided the much-needed ammunition to the rebels, the police said in a press release.
Earlier this month, Security forces gunned down eight suspected Maoists in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
Police officials said the men were formerly associated with the Jana Shakti group, and reports suggested that the men had regrouped and formed a ‘dalam’ (armed squad), which was operating in the area for the last two months.
The Telangana encounter came just after Maoist groups observed their annual 'Peoples Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA)' week, from December 2 to 8, when they seek the support of locals, distribute pamphlets and try to enlist volunteers for their cause.