16-05-2025
1 from T among 31 Maoists killed in Karreguttalu encounter
Hyderabad: Out of 31 Maoists killed in 21 days in the recent anti-Maoist operations along the Telangana–Chhattisgarh border in Karreguttalu, at least four are linked to the
Telangana State Committee
of the banned CPI (Maoist), though only one was from the state.
Sadhanapalli Chandu (23), also known by his alias Ravi and Niraj, hailed from Eturu village of Kannaigudem Mandal in Mulugu district and carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh. A trained lab technician, Chandu joined the Maoists around 2021 after completing his Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology in Bhadrachalam. He was employed at a private hospital before going underground.
Police sources said Chandu worked closely with Damodar, a senior Maoist leader in charge of Telangana State Committee, and was part of the outfit's medical team. He was killed in the encounter at Karreguttalu during a major push under "
Operation Kagar
".
His body was handed over to his family by Chhattisgarh police after his identity was confirmed.
The other three, though not natives of Telangana, were in key positions within the Telangana State Committee. They include Sodi Narsinga Rao alias Ramesh, linked to the technical wing and listed as a Divisional Committee Member (DCM); Lalsu alias Punem Kodiya, who handled communications as a DCM; and Dugga Venkal alias Soma, a party member affiliated with the same unit.
The anti-Maoist intelligence sleuths of Telangana are also verifying reports of two other women Maoists with Telangana Committee links being killed in the same operations.
The recent encounters, particularly the one at Osuru police station limits in Bijapur district, are considered one of the most significant blows to Maoist infrastructure. It is believed that top Maoist leadership is hiding in parts of Karreguttalu that are still untouched by police.
A cop involved in the operations said, "During the India-Pakistan conflict, there was a brief break, and some paramilitary forces were pulled out. Now, the forces may return to continue the operation to clean the area."
