In a major development in the fight against Left Wing Extremism, several senior leaders of the banned Maoist organisation, including its top commander, have surrendered before the Telangana Police, a move security officials describe as a significant setback to the insurgent network operating across central India.
According to sources, Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji, the Central Committee secretary and widely regarded as the “supreme commander” of the Maoist movement, laid down arms before the Special Intelligence Bureau of the Telangana Police. He was accompanied by Politburo member Malla Rajireddy alias Sangram, along with around 16 other Maoist cadres. The coordinated surrender is being viewed as one of the most consequential breakthroughs in recent anti-Maoist operations.
Officials believe the development follows sustained joint security operations conducted in the forested border regions of Telangana and Chhattisgarh, particularly in the Karregutta hills. These operations reportedly disrupted key Maoist bases, severed communication networks, and significantly weakened the organisation’s operational capacity. Under mounting pressure and shrinking safe zones, senior leaders were reportedly left with limited options, leading to the decision to surrender.
The Telangana Police is expected to formally brief the media in the coming days, with authorities describing the event as a “historic achievement” in ongoing efforts to curb insurgency in the region.
Reacting to the news, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma attributed the surrender to intensified action by central and state security forces. He said that coordinated operations conducted under the broader national strategy against Naxalism had pushed the insurgent movement into what he described as its “final phase,” adding that the government aims to eliminate Naxalism across the country within a defined timeline.
Security analysts note that Devji’s surrender carries strategic significance beyond immediate operational gains. As a senior ideologue and key planner within the Maoist hierarchy, his exit is expected to create a leadership vacuum that could disrupt command structures and weaken coordination among remaining cadres. The Maoist network has historically depended on experienced leadership operating from remote forest strongholds in areas such as Bastar and adjoining regions.
Officials believe the development could encourage additional surrenders and help stabilise districts long affected by insurgency, potentially accelerating rehabilitation and peace initiatives. While security agencies caution that isolated pockets of activity may continue, the surrender of top leadership is being seen as a turning point that could substantially alter the trajectory of the decades-long conflict.
