Top Maoist leaders killed in AOB encounter: Uday and Aruna among 3 dead; leadership shaken, combing ops continue
VISAKHAPATNAM: The CPI Maoists in the AndhraUday and Aruna among 3 deadOdisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) received a severe jolt as its Central Committee member and AOBSZC secretary, Gajarla Ravi alias Uday, and AOBSZC member and East Division secretary, Ravi Venka Chaitanya alias Aruna, were killed in an encounter.
Another cadre, Anju, was also killed close to Kintukuru village, between the Maredumilli and Rampachodavaram areas in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, in the early hours of Wednesday. Police sources confirmed the death of the naxals, although an official announcement is yet to be made.
According to sources, security forces spotted a group of 16 Maoists near Kintukuru village, between Maredumilli and Rampachodavaram.
After a 25-minute exchange of fire, security forces found three dead bodies and identified them as Uday, Aruna, and Anju. The remaining members were said to be escaped from the area and combing operations are going on in the area. It is recalled that the same squad escaped twice from the security forces' combing operations in AOB in the past couple of months.
Uday became a well-known face as he was one of the members of the PWG naxals group that came for peace talks with the state govt in 2004-05 during YS Rajasekhar Reddy's tenure as CM.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting
Luxeartisanship
Buy Now
Undo
His four-decade-old revolutionary underground life came to an end in Alluri district. Aruna was the wife of Central Committee leader Pratapareddy Ramachandra Reddy alias Chalapati, who was killed in Dandakarnya recently by the security forces.
The Maoists in the Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) have suffered serious losses in the past few years, and now their main leadership was eliminated. Gajarla Ravi (62), from Velisala village in the combined Warangal district in Telangana, joined the then People's War Group (PWG) naxals in the 1980s.
He was a radical student union (RSU) leader and a former member of the North Telangana Special Zonal Committee. When the PWG suffered severe losses in Telangana, he was sent to AOB.
His elder brother, Azad, and his wife, Rupa, were also killed in an encounter. His younger brother Aitu was a former commander of the Gadchiroli area in Maharashtra and surrendered. Uday's wif,e Jameela, was also killed in an encounter.
Aruna, a native of Karakavanipalem in Pendurthi mandal on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam, joined the Reds almost two and a half decades ago. Her brother, Azad, Galikonda Area Commander, was also encountered in 2015 in Koyyuru mandal. According to sources, she was suffering from serious health problems.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ex-NCT member Taeil pleads guilty to aggravated rape charges – requests for leniency in court
A former NCT member has officially admitted to the charges of aggravated rape along with two other persons in the first case hearing. The first hearing for the assault case was held on June 18, where Taeil, along with two other accomplices, was found guilty of the rape charges. Taeil pleads guilty to aggravated rape charges During the first hearing for the rape charges case against Tael and two other people, the idol pleaded guilty, as per reports from Koreaboo. He, as well as his two other accomplices, admitted to the crime and took responsibility. They were charged by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Women and Children's Crime Investigation Division 1 in February, and the first case hearing was held today. The charges of aggravated assault against the foreign woman were filed under the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. Taeil asks for leniency in court after prosecution requests 7 years in jail During the case hearing, the prosecution filed a request to ensure that the former NCT member, along with his two accomplices, each be sent to jail for 7 years for the crime. They cited the severity of the crime alongside the psychological effects it had on the victim. During the trial, Moon Taeil requested leniency after citing an agreement reached with the victim. His legal representative shared that 'Taeil submitted a statement of self-surrender to the police. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo He also went through the difficult process of reaching an agreement with the victim, who is Chinese, and even received a letter from the victim stating she did not want further punishment levied.' No official ruling has been issued from the court yet. What happened last year? The charges first came to light last year in June 2024, when the prosecution alleged that the three people involved in the case had taken advantage of the victim's inebriated state. Cases were filed against the singer by the victim. Following the revelation of the charges, in August 2024, NCT's agency issued an official statement sharing how the idol will no longer be part of the group. Since then, Taeil continued to attend a few group events and even held a live on a popular social media platform on his birthday. Since then, he has only been spotted in public once, where he was drinking and hanging out with his friends a day before the original hearing. During today's trial, the former idol had revealed what he had been doing since leaving his agency and group. He shared that 'I was kicked out of my agency after working as a singer, and I am currently working part-time jobs.'
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
'You are the best': Meloni compliments PM Modi as Melodi moment steals G7 spotlight
PM Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: The chemistry between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, fondly dubbed "Melodi" by social media, was once again on full display during the G7 Summit in Canada's Calgary. Set against the backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains, the two leaders met informally on the sidelines of the summit, engaging in both serious conversations and warm camaraderie. While discussions ranged from terrorism to the concerns of the Global South, it was their personal rapport that caught the internet's eye. In a widely shared video, Meloni is seen warmly complimenting PM Modi, telling him with a smile, "You are the best. I am trying to be as you." PM Modi, visibly amused, shakes her hand and laughs. Their interaction quickly sparked a fresh wave of excitement online, with users reviving the popular "Melodi" hashtag—a term coined during their previous meetups at COP28 in Dubai and the G20 Summit in India. During COP28, Meloni had shared a selfie with Modi captioned "Good friends at COP28, #Melodi,' a post that had gone viral within hours. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Reinforcing the friendly tone, Italian PM posted on X after the G7 exchange: "Italy and India, linked by a great friendship." PM Modi replied, "Fully agree with you, PM Giorgia Meloni. India's friendship with Italy will continue to get stronger, greatly benefitting our people!
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Asim Munir meets Trump: From Zia, Musharaff to Munir, what happens when Pakistan's army chiefs meet US presidents
US President Donald Trump will meet Pakistan's Field Marshal General Asim Munir for a private lunch in the Cabinet Room of the White House today. The agenda has not been published, but officials expect the two men to discuss regional security , counter‑terrorism and bilateral ties. The meeting is the first at this level in 15 years and follows last month's India‑Pakistan clash and Israel's strike in Iran. Today's lunch signals a potential thaw in relations after successive administrations — under Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Trump's own first term — largely side-lined Pakistan over its alleged support for militant groups. During that earlier term, Trump suspended nearly $2 billion in military aid to Islamabad, accusing it of harbouring terrorists. A new opening now comes as conflicts across the Middle East grow and South Asia faces fresh friction. What has changed US attitude toward Pakistan? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cua Duong: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo Observers trace the shift to earlier moments in the relationship built around two military rulers — Mohammad Zia ul‑Haq and Pervez Musharraf . Both leaders aligned with US goals at key times and secured economic and defence support that reshaped ties. Army chief meetings reveal where power lies in Pakistan In Pakistan, the Army Chief dominates national security, foreign policy and nuclear command. US administrations often bypass civilian leaders and engage directly with the army chief to ensure clear communication on Afghanistan, India, counter‑terrorism and nuclear safety. Each presidential meeting with a Pakistani Army Chief has coincided with broader strategic needs or global events. Live Events Zia‑ul‑Haq forged Cold War–era military ties General Mohammad Zia‑ul‑Haq met several US Presidents in the 1980s, including Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Those meetings took place as Pakistan became a frontline state in the US‑backed push against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Under Zia, Pakistan's military and intelligence services worked with the CIA to fund and train Afghan mujahideen, unlocking substantial US military and economic aid. President Reagan publicly welcomed Zia to the White House in December 1982, praising Pakistan's support for regional stability. Their meetings laid groundwork for the military‑to‑military relationship that would shape future US‑Pakistan ties. Musharraf–Clinton: post‑Kargil outreach after a coup General Pervez Musharraf met President Bill Clinton in March 2000, just months after seizing power in a military coup. Clinton's brief visit followed the 1999 Kargil conflict and heightened nuclear worries in South Asia. Though Washington opposed the coup, the decision to meet Musharraf helped stabilise the region and kept dialogue open with Pakistan's real power centre. Bush–Musharraf alliance deepened after 9/11 President George W. Bush met Musharraf in 2006 during a visit to Islamabad. After 9/11, the US relied on Pakistan's military for logistics and intelligence in the War on Terror. Pakistan received more than $10 billion in military and economic aid, and Washington designated it a 'Major Non‑NATO Ally,' granting privileged access to US military technology. Quiet nuclear‑safety talks began under Musharraf Post‑9/11 worries over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal led Washington to open confidential security talks. Then Secretary of State Colin Powell said the US had invited Pakistani officials 'to see how safety and security is ensured in the United States.' Pakistan's foreign minister replied, 'Who would refuse.' That dialogue marked the start of discreet cooperation on nuclear safeguards. Bajwa–Trump: coordination during Afghan exit plans In another meeting, although not standalone, General Qamar Javed Bajwa met President Trump in July 2019 while Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Washington. The US was seeking an Afghan peace deal and needed Pakistan's help with the Taliban talks. Bajwa's presence underscored the army's sway over Afghan outcomes and revived military coordination after years of strain. Trump–Munir lunch signals a fresh opening in 2025 General Asim Munir's lunch with President Trump on 18 June 2025 is the first such engagement in 15 years. It comes amid regional tensions, including a recent India‑Pakistan clash and Israeli strikes in Iran. Washington is likely seeking Pakistan's cooperation in managing fallout and balancing China's growing influence. The private White House setting suggests the US is again turning to Pakistan's military leadership as a key regional security player.
