Top Maoist Surrenders: The highest-ranking member of the communist party of India (Maoist), Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji has surrendered in Telangana. A top police official on Sunday said the top Maoist commander and the organisation's key "strategist" Devji has laid down his arms before the state police. His surrender is seen as a deadly blow to the outlawed organisation, which now lacks leadership.
Who Is Devji?
62-year-old Devji, who hails from Telangana's Jagtial district, is believed to have succeeded the late CPI (Maoist) General Secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, after his death in May 2025. Devji, carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, created the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and went on to become a key Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and the politburo member of the Maoist party.
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Key Success Days Before March Deadline
Along with Devji, another senior Maoist leader, Malla Raji Reddy and several other cadres of the CPI (Maoist) also surrendered. The major development comes days before the Home Minister Amit Shah's March 2026 deadline to eliminate Naxalism in the country. According to the official sources, the surrender will be officially declared in a couple of days.
Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) B Shivadhar Reddy on February 15 called upon all underground CPI (Maoist) leaders and cadre, including some 15 remaining ultras from Telangana to give up arms, saying those who choose to join the mainstream will be extended immediate assistance and benefits under the state government's "Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme".
Over the past two years, 588 Maoist leaders and cadres at various levels have rejoined normal life through the sustained efforts of Telangana Police, Reddy earlier said.
(With PTI inputs)