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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Wife's arrest reignites hunt for Ashanna, India's most elusive Maoist commander
Hyderabad: The long-drawn trail of one of India's most dangerous Maoist leaders, Takkalapalli Vasudeva Rao, alias Ashanna, has reignited after his wife, Sri Vidya, was arrested by Telangana police in Hyderabad on July 24. A senior cadre of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), Sri Vidya's arrest has turned the spotlight back on Ashanna—a top strategist and executioner in the Maoist insurgency who has eluded capture for over three decades. According to intelligence sources, Ashanna, also called Rupesh, is now believed to be operating from the dense Abujhmadh forests in Chhattisgarh, continuing to direct lethal guerrilla operations across central India. His reputation as a master tactician and bomb-maker is matched only by his ability to vanish into the forested terrain, evading even the most sophisticated security crackdowns. A life in rebellion You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Born in Polonipalli village in Warangal (now Mulugu district), Ashanna hailed from a middle class Velama family. After studying at an ITI Polytechnic, he joined the People's War Group (PWG) in 1991. Within a decade, he was involved in over 48 criminal cases in Warangal district alone, including attacks on police stations and sabotage of railway lines. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in Benteng Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo His meteoric rise began with his appointment as head of the PWG's action team in Hyderabad in 1999. A decade later, he was inducted into the CPI (Maoist) central committee. Intelligence sources suspect that he may have been elevated as a Central Committee member. However, Ashanna, in an interview said he is in-charge of the North-West Sub-Zonal Committee of Dandakaranya of CPI (Maoist). Fluent in Telugu, Hindi, and Gondi, Ashanna carries an AK-47 and a ₹20 lakh bounty declared by the Telangana govt. High-profile killings Ashanna's name comes to mind in some of the most audacious and politically destabilising Maoist strikes. He masterminded the 2000 landmine attack that killed then Andhra Pradesh home minister A Madhava Reddy, and the daylight gunning down of IPS officer KS Umesh Chandra in Hyderabad in 1999. His sensational strike came in 2003—a failed assassination attempt on then chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Alipiri ghat road, near Tirupati, using claymore mines. Though Naidu survived, the attack marked a turning point in the state's anti-Naxal policy. Ashanna was also linked to multiple assassination attempts on ex-CM N Janardhan Reddy in 2003 and 2007. In the latter attack, three aides were killed. Forensics pointed to his trademark use of remote-detonated landmines. He is suspected of involvement in the 2019 IED blast in Gadchiroli that killed 15 Maharashtra policemen and had even allegedly camped in Delhi to plot a high-level assassination before escaping a police raid. Ashanna has also served as a military trainer at the Buniyadi Communist Training School in Dandakaranya. His instruction in explosives, intelligence gathering, and ambush tactics have shaped many of the CPI (Maoist)'s current operatives. He also headed the group's military intelligence unit, guiding operations across Telangana, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. Despite nearly being captured in Mahbubnagar in 2010 and false reports of his death in 2018, Ashanna remains India's most wanted Maoist figure. A tactical opening? In a joint operation by the Special Intelligence Bureau and Miyapur police, Sri Vidya was arrested from a rented house in Hafeezpet, Hyderabad. A senior member of the Dandakaranya state committee, she too carried a ₹20 lakh reward. Maoist literature and a laptop were seized, but no solid intelligence on Ashanna has surfaced yet. "We believe he may now go deeper into the forests or shift entirely," said an officer. Still, security forces are hopeful the arrest might offer the breakthrough they've sought for over three decades. However, in a recent interview to the media, Ashanna has put forth truce proposal and a ceasefire to govt following the Kagar encounter killings.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- The Hindu
Maoist couple with ₹25 lakh bounty surrenders before police in Ramagundam of Telangana's Peddapalli district
A Maoist couple, who had been working underground mostly in Dandakaranya forest region, for more than three decades, carrying a bounty of ₹25 lakh on their heads, surrendered before Ramagundam Police Commissioner Ambar Kishor Jha in Telangana's Peddapalli district on Tuesday. The duo hail from the erstwhile Adilabad district in Telangana. They were identified as Athram Lachanna alias Gopanna, 65, the banned organisation's Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee Member and in-charge of Division Technical Team, North Bastar, and Chowdhury Ankubhai alias Anithakka, 55, Divisional Committee Member, Technical Team, North Bastar DVC, Chhattisgarh. Lachanna, a native of Parapelli village in Mancherial district, joined the CPI (ML) People's War Group (PWG) of Naxalites in 1983 and initially worked in Chennur dalam in the former composite Adilabad district. Later, he was promoted as Area Committee Member in 1988 and worked as Deputy Commander of Sirpur PWG Dalam. He married Ankubhai, a member of the PWG Dalam, in 1989. In 1995, the naxal couple was transferred to the Technical department and sent to an urban area for party work, police said. Lachanna has a total of 35 cases registered against him in various districts of Telangana. Ankubhai, who hails from Agaraguda village in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, joined the PWG in 1988. She has 14 cases pending against her in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district. Police said the couple had quit the banned outfit and returned to the mainstream to lead a peaceful life with their family members by availing the State government's welfare measures for surrendered Maoists.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Time of India
Manipur cops arrest 6 Arambai Tenggol members, 3 militants
Imphal: Manipur Police have arrested nine people, including six members of Meitei organisation Arambai Tenggol and three militants of a banned outfit, police said on Wednesday. All the arrests were made in Bishnupur district on Tuesday. The six Arambai Tenggol members were involved in physically assaulting state police personnel during a bandh in Bishnupur district on June 9, a police statement said. The arrested persons were identified as Laishram Sanahal Singh (26), Laishram Rishikanta Singh (20), Laishram Premchand (18), Kangabam Nongdamba Singh (23), Sarangthem Rabichandra alias Rabi (28) and Yumnam Jaswant Singh (22). Meanwhile, police also arrested two militants belonging to the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (PWG), from Utlou area in Bishnupur district. "The duo was raising funds for the banned outfit by extorting money from general public and businessmen in Nambol area," the statement said. The arrested cadres were identified as Laitonjam Ramakanta Meitei (34) and Thongam Herojit Singh (38). Laitonjam Ramakanta Meitei, a self-styled section commander of KCP(PWG), has more than 15 cadres working under him for the outfit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em São Paulo (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo Efforts were underway to nab the remaining cadres, the statement said. Another active cadre of the same outfit was also arrested from Moirang Okshongbung in Bishnupur district. Identified as Thoudam Santosh Singh (23), the insurgent had extorted large sums from schools and colleges in Thoubal district. PTI
New Indian Express
07-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Five militants arrested in violence-hit Manipur
IMPHAL: Security forces arrested five militants belonging to two proscribed outfits in Manipur's Imphal East district, police said on Monday. Three active cadres of the banned Prepak were apprehended from the Keirao Khunou area on Sunday, a senior officer said. "Two of them are juveniles and have been treated as per the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act," he said. Two cadres the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (PWG) were arrested from the Keibi Heikak Mapan Awang Leikai area on Sunday, he said. The two militants were involved in "extortion activities", and they were held when they had come to collect extortion money, the officer said.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Woman among 3 militants arrested in Manipur
Security forces have arrested three militants, including a woman, belonging to various proscribed outfits in Manipur, police said on Friday (June 27, 2025). A woman cadre of the banned Peoples' Liberation Army was apprehended from Haobam Marak area in Imphal West district on Thursday (June 26, 2025), a senior officer said. She was allegedly involved in extortion activities and had threatened officials and courier service operators in Imphal area, he said. One active cadre of the outlawed Kangleipak Communist Party (PWG) was arrested from Samurou in Imphal West district on Thursday for allegedly being involved in extortion activities in valley areas. One pistol was recovered from his possession, the officer said. A cadre of the proscribed Prepak (Pro) was also arrested from his residence in Khurai Thangjam Leikai area in Imphal East district on Wednesday. A person, who had allegedly threatened people, using firearms, was arrested from the Mayang Imphal Bengoon Maning area in the Imphal West district. One pistol, along with ammunition, was seized from his possession, the officer said. Security forces have been conducting search operations and area domination exercises in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out two years ago. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The Centre had on February 13 imposed the President's rule in Manipur after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned. The State Assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
