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Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Suspecting them of being police informers, Maoists murder 2 in Chhattisgarh village
Two residents of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district were murdered on Saturday night by Maoists who suspected them of being police informers, officials said. Bijapur is the Chhattisgarh district worst affected by Maoist violence. The state has reported 22 civilians killed by Maoists this year and 71 last year. Saturday night's incident took place in Sendrobor and Yampur villages in the jurisdiction of Pamed police station. The area is in the southernmost area of Bijapur, towards the Telangana border, near the area where the Maoists' most dangerous battalion — Battalion 1 of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) — is believed to be located. A security camp, Dharmavaram, is located seven kilometres from the villages, and the police station is around 10 km away. Last year, the Dharmavaram camp was attacked by the Battalion 1 with heavy gunfire and rocket launchers, injuring 12 jawans. The NIA recently filed a chargesheet in the case. An official said a group of Maoists came to the villages late at night in Saturday and murdered the two civilians, 'suspecting them to be police informers.' This comes just a few days after the insurgents killed three other civilians in Bijapur. The killings come amid an intensified push by security personnel against the Maoists, leaving the group at their weakest ever condition. Several Maoists, including top leaders, have been killed in recent years. The group's Politburo, its highest decision-making body, has shrunk to just three members: Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, Thippiri Thirupathi alias Devuji, and Misir Besra alias Sagar. At the height of the insurgency, the Politburo had at least 11-12 members. The Central Committee members have also whittled down to 17 from 42 in 2007-08. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Chhattisgarh for a two-day trip starting Sunday. He is set to visit a security camp and chair a meeting to review ongoing anti-Maoist operations in the state, said Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Dwindled to a handful', only 24 armed Naxal cadres active in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli: Police
Only 24 armed Naxal cadres are currently active in Maharashtra's border district Gadchiroli, according to the police. They are mostly concentrated in security vacuum areas, such as Abujhmarh and the National Park region, along the areas bordering the Narayanpur and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh, said the police. The insurgency in Gadchiroli has been gradually declining due to the efforts of the state's elite anti-Naxal commando force, C60, as well as operations conducted by Central forces. Authorities say that the remaining insurgent group is fragmented and largely cornered, which has led to a focused approach in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations. Speaking to The Indian Express, Neelotpal, Superintendent of Police, said, 'Some part of Abujhmarh also comes under our operational area. While movement has been observed, the numbers have dwindled to a handful. This has made our strategy more specific, allowing for surrender first but initiating full-scale operations if needed.' According to officials, while 40 Naxal cadres remain on record, only 24 are active armed cadres currently believed to be operating in the region, according to intelligence sources. 'As the base shrinks, tracking and neutralising them becomes more challenging,' Neelotpal added. The Gadchiroli police say that surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy has also proven to be effective. On January 1, the wife of CPI (Maoist) central committee member Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, Tarakka, was among 11 who surrendered before the chief minister. The biggest breakthrough came on June 22 last year when top Gadchiroli division in-charge Giridhar Tumreddy laid down arms. 'His surrender was an operational game-changer. Since then, 52 Naxals have surrendered,' SP Neelotpal said. The location from where the Gadchiroli police brought him out alive was near-impossible to breach, police sources said. Last week, 12 Maoists surrendered in Gadchiroli in front of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during his visit there. With security forces increasing presence in remote pockets and a renewed push for surrenders, the district is witnessing a major shift in its decades-long conflict with left-wing extremism.
News18
10-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Desperate Bid? Back To The Wall, Maoists Give Bandh Call In Chhattisgarh, Kill ASP-Rank Officer
Last Updated: CPI (Maoist) Politburo may have been reduced to just three members now, while the strength of the armed cadre could also have come down to about 1,500 A desperate CPI (Maoist) killed an ASP-rank officer of the Chhattisgarh Police in an IED blast on Monday, allegedly laying a trap for the police party by spreading rumours of arson in Konta ahead of their bandh call on June 10. Data, however, suggests that the Naxals are at their lowest numbers ever and are growing more and more desperate. As per Union government data till June this year, 226 Naxals have been killed, 418 arrested (including two Central Committee Members), while 896 have surrendered. The figure last year was 290 killed, 1,090 arrested, and 881 surrendered. Among those neutralised were 18 top Naxal leaders. Politburo Reduced To 3 CPI (Maoist) Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the Naxal group, may have been reduced to just three members now, senior CRPF officials told CNN-News18. Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, Thippiri Thirupathi alias Devuji, and Misir Besra alias Sagar could be the only surviving top leadership in the outlawed group whose politburo, at the start of the decade, could have had 12 members. The central committee, the second most-important body, could also have depleted by 60 per cent with recent encounters in Chhattisgarh and Telangana, officials estimated. Of the central committee members, Rukla Srinivas alias Ramtra was neutralised in 2019; Buryari Sudhakar (CCM) was killed in 2019; Prashant Bose alias Kisan Da (PBM)—with a reward of Rs 1.47 crore—was neutralised in 2021; Sheela Marandi (CCM), killed in 2021; BG Krishnamurthy (CCM), killed in 2021; Milind Teltumbde alias Deepak (CCM)—with a reward of Rs 50 lakh—was neutralised in 2021; Yapa Narayan Rao alias Haribhushan (CCM), neutralised in 2021; and Akkiraju Haragopal alias RK (CCM) was killed in 2021. Also, Vijay Arya alias Jaspal (CCM), Mitlesh Mehta alias Mitlesh Prasad (CCM), and Arun Kumar Bhattacharya alias Kanchan (CCM) were neutralised in 2022. Kudakam Sudarshan alias Anand (PBM) —carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore—Pramod Mishra (PBM) and Sanjay Deepak Rao (CCM) were killed in 2023. Last month, the general secretary of the party, Basav (Anna Raju), was gunned down by state police in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh, inflicting the biggest blow to Maoists. Head of PLGA battalion 1, Hidma, could have escaped by a whisker after the Karregutta operations that killed 31 Naxals. Armed cadre down by 50% While no exact numbers were available, Chhattisgarh officials estimated that the strength of the armed cadre of Maoists could also have come down to about 1,500. 'In 2024, the total numbers of arrested, killed and surrendered Maoists were about 3,500. These were part of the armed cadre. But after the series of recent operations, the estimate is that their strength may have depleted by more than half," a senior Chhattisgarh official told CNN-News18. Data available with central forces named Mupalla Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapathy, Mallojula Venugopal alias Bhupati alias Abhay, Misir Besera, Nambala Kesava Rao alias Basav Anna Raju and Appa Rao alias Chalpati as the politburo members who were steering the Naxals in the last few years. The central committee, as per official data, had as its members Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy, Deoji, Pulluri Prasad Rao, Bhaskar alias Modem Balakrishna, Ganesh Uike, Gajrala Ravi, Madvi Hidma, Anal Da, K Ramachandra Reddy, Sujata, Mala Raja Reddy, Asim Mondal, and TLN Chalan alias Sudhakar. Most of these had a reward of Rs 40 lakh to Rs 1 crore on their heads. Nambala Kesava Rao alias Basav Anna Raju was killed on May 21 this year. A month before Rao, Chanderi Yadav, central committee member and in-charge of Maoists in Jharkhand and Bihar, was gunned down. Appa Rao, another politburo member and in-charge of Odisha, was killed in January 2025. Unable to retaliate While the earlier elimination of Naxal leadership was fiercely retaliated, latest MHA data shows a trend reversal. A 73 per cent reduction has been noted in the number of security personnel killed in anti-Naxal operations. While 1,851 policemen and women were killed in the Naxal zone between 2004 and 2014, the number dropped to 509 in 2014–2024. Naxals would often kill civilians, branding them police informers, but civilian deaths have also declined by 70 per cent, Union government data suggests. As per MHA data, there is a 53 per cent drop in Naxal violence over the past decade. Between 2004 and 2014, 16,463 incidents of Naxal violence were reported. The number dropped to 7,744 between 2014 and 2024, government officials said. About the Author Arunima Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ...Read More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : chhattisgarh CPI (Maoist) ministry of home affairs Naxals Location : Chhattisgarh, India, India First Published: June 10, 2025, 16:59 IST News india Desperate Bid? Back To The Wall, Maoists Give Bandh Call In Chhattisgarh, Kill ASP-Rank Officer
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Maoist kingpin Sonu's last stand? Frontrunner to lead CPI (Maoist) set to surrender, shaking rebel ranks
Mallojula Venugopal Rao , better known by his alias Sonu, a senior member of the CPI (Maoist) central committee and once considered a frontrunner to lead the banned outfit, is expected to surrender before Gadchiroli police , top officials in Maharashtra's anti-Naxal operations have told The Times of India. The 69-year-old veteran insurgent, who holds a BCom degree and belongs to a Telugu Brahmin family, has reportedly grown weary of the struggle. Sonu had earlier appealed to the government for a ceasefire. According to the ToI report, his deteriorating physical condition and the shrinking influence of his armed group — particularly against elite forces like Maharashtra's C-60 commandos and Telangana's Greyhounds — are key reasons for the impending surrender. Sonu is the elder brother of slain Maoist leader Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, who was killed in a 2011 encounter near Kolkata. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you eat ginger every day for a month, your body will experience the following phenomena Tips and Tricks Sources cited by ToI suggest that Sonu could soon join his wife Tarakka, who surrendered before Maharashtra Police in late 2023 and is currently housed at a Gadchiroli police rehabilitation camp. On Thursday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hinted at an impending large-scale surrender in the region — interpreted by officials as a reference to Sonu and his group. 'Sonu is likely holed up in the Abujmarh forested hillocks. He saw the end coming a month ago and called for a truce,' an unnamed official told ToI. Security personnel said cadres should surrender soon, warning that the Maoist stronghold is rapidly collapsing. 'Forces are prodding deeper and moving fast. The guerrillas are under siege,' a senior officer said. Live Events Although names like Sonu and his comrade Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji (60) have surfaced as possible successors to the late general secretary Basavaraju, intelligence agencies cited by ToI believe neither has the capacity to lead — especially Sonu, given his age and apparent openness to peace. The report also highlights growing discontent within lower-rung tribal cadres, particularly against the Telugu-speaking leadership of the CPI (Maoist). 'There is deep resentment about how the tribal fighters are treated — being pushed into the frontlines or forced into menial work,' a security official who had interrogated a surrendered cadre told ToI. With morale low and leadership crumbling, sources told the paper that a wider exodus from the Maoist ranks may be imminent. The official added, 'The Telugu hierarchy will never allow tribal cadres to lead, even if they do the fighting. That rigidity has brought them to the brink.' With inputs from ToI
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, frontrunner to lead CPI (Maoist), may also give up arms
NAGPUR: CPI (Maoist) central committee (CC) member Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu (69), who was considered among the frontrunners for the banned party's top post after the gunning down of its general secretary Basavaraju, is likely to surrender before Gadchiroli police, top sources in anti-Naxal apparatus in Maharashtra said. The Maoist veteran, a Telugu Brahmin with a BCom degree who had appealed to govt for a ceasefire, has lost his agility and leads a motley group which is no match for the elite C60 commandos of Maharashtra or Grey Hounds of Telangana. He is the elder brother of Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, who was eliminated in an encounter near Kolkata in 2011. Sonu is likely to lay down arms and join his wife Tarakka, who surrendered before Maharashtra police late last year and is currently staying at Gadchiroli police's rehabilitation camp. On Thursday, CM Devendra Fadnavis hinted at large-scale surrender of rebels in Gadchiroli, which sources claim is a pointer to the possible laying down of arms by an entire 'platoon' commandeered by Sonu. "Sonu is likely to be holed up in a forested hillock at Abujmarh. He saw the end coming a month ago and called for a truce," said an official source, adding that all cadres should immediately approach govt or security apparatus and surrender to avoid fatalities. "Forces are prodding deeper and moving fast. The tables have turned, the guerrillas are under siege, they can no longer ambush with mines or grenades," said a senior police officer. Though there's speculation about Sonu or his younger comrade Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji (60) heading CPI (Maoist), intelligence agencies feel the veteran Maoist doesn't have age on his side, and is inclined for truce. Apart from the tottering leadership, security agencies pointed out that the tribal cadres in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra are rudderless. "There's strong resentment among lower-rung tribal cadres against Telugu domination of CC and the way they force tribals to do menial jobs or push them into the frontlines," said an official, adding arrogance and rigidity of Telugu leadership in CC has led to their decimation. Sources said there's a possibility of an exodus now, with tribal cadres ready to abandon the Maoist cause and return to the mainstream, rather than get neutralised. " Telugu hierarchy in CPI(Maoist) will not allow tribal cadres to lead the movement, even though they don't marshal the force or lead from the front," said a senior official who had interrogated a surrendered guerrilla.
