47 Maoists from Chhattisgarh surrender before Telangana DGP
Hyderabad, April 25 : As many as 47 underground cadres of CPI (Maoist) from Chhattisgarh, including Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member and in-charge of South Bastar Divisional Committee Hemla Iythu alias Vijja, surrendered before the Telangana Director General of Police B. Shivdhar Reddy here on Saturday.
The surrendered cadres include four from the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), 28 from DKSZ and 15 from the 9th and 30th platoon of South Bastar DVC.
The Maoists who joined the mainstream surrendered 32 firearms, including one Light Machine Gun, four AK-47 rifles, three SLR rifles, two INSAS rifles, two 410 musket rifles, one 8 mm rifle, 12 single-shot guns, one 9 mm pistol, one revolver, two BGL guns, two air guns and one SBBL gun along with 515 live ammunition of various calibre.
The DGP told media persons that attracted by Telangana’s surrender and rehabilitation policy and influenced by the proactive and supportive approach of the Telangana Police towards underground Maoist cadres, the cadres laid down their arms.
Following the surrender of all key leaders of the CPI (Maoist), almost all remaining underground key leaders and armed cadres from the South Bastar DVC of DKSZC, including its secretary, have now been neutralised, leaving the South Bastar DVC on the brink of collapse, the DGP said.
Hemla Iythu joined CPI (Maoist) in 2004. The 45-year-old held various positions in the banned outfit.
Podium Lachu, alias Manoj, DVCM and Commander of 9th Platoon, South Bastar DVC, had joined the Maoist party in 2009. Twelve Area Committee Members (ACMs) were among the surrendered.
The DGP stated that for the surrender of 47 underground CPI (Maoist) cadres along with weapons, the total eligible reward amount of Rs 1.50 crore will be disbursed.
As all the forty-seven cadres are natives of Chhattisgarh, an interim relief of Rs 25,000 each has now been handed over to them. The remaining amount will be disbursed after completion of documentation and opening of bank accounts. The health of all cadres surrendered in Telangana, irrespective of their native place, is being duly taken care of.
As assured by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, health cards for all cadres who surrendered between 2024 and 2026 in Telangana are currently in process and will be issued shortly. All additional benefits due under the rehabilitation policy are extended to them promptly, enabling them to rebuild their life with dignity and security.
The police chief revealed that a total of 260 underground CPI (Maoist) cadres have surrendered in Telangana this year so far. This includes the surrender of two Central Committee Members (CCMs), 10 State Committee Members (SCMs), one Regional Committee Member (RCM), 23 Divisional Committee Secretaries/Members (DVCs/DVCMs), 94 Area Committee Secretaries/Members (ACS/ACMs) and 130 Party Members (PMs).
In addition, 238 firearms have been recovered in Telangana in 2026 alone, marking a significant depletion of the group’s armed strength, he said.
The DGP stated that only four active underground cadres from Telangana remain in various formations outside Telangana. All four are operating in other States, including Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Two among them are Central Committee Members of CPI (Maoist).