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New Indian Express
27-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Two Maoists operating in East Bastar surrender before Andhra DGP, cite 'ideological disillusionment'
VIJAYAWADA: Citing ideological disillusionment, lack of public support, and internal discontent, a Maoist couple has joined the mainstream. Jorige Nagaraju alias Kamalesh, State Zonal Committee Member, and incharge of East Bastar Divisional Committee, and his wife Medaka Jyoteeswari alias Aruna, Divisional Committee Member and incharge of Mobile Academic Political Organisation School, East Bastar, surrendered before Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta on Saturday. The couple handed over a cache of arms to police. Speaking on the occasion, the DGP said the surrender of Maoist couple marks a major operational gain for security forces, who are combating Left Wing Extremism in the State. Both Kamalesh and his wife Aruna hail from Krishna district, and served in the banned CPI (Maoist) for over 30 years. While Kamalesh held the posts of Special Zonal Committee Member in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, and incharge of the East Bastar Divisional Committee, his wife Aruna, originally from Kappaladoddi village, had been active in the movement for three decades, and served as a Divisional Committee Member. Police announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh on Kamalesh in Chhattisgarh, and Rs 20 lakh in Andhra Pradesh, while Aruna carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on her head.
Hans India
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Two senior Maoist leaders surrender before DGP
Vijayawada: Two senior Maoist leaders — J Nagaraju alias Kamalesh, a State Zonal Committee member and in-charge of the East Bastar Divisional Committee, and his wife M Jyoteeswari alias Aruna, a Divisional Committee member and head of the Mobile Academic Political Organisation School, East Bastar — surrendered before director general of police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta here on Saturday. Nagaraju, a native of Poranki village near Vijayawada, carried a reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head, while his wife Aruna, hailing from Kappaladoddi in Krishna district, had a reward of Rs 5 lakh. The DGP handed over cheques of Rs 20,000 each to the couple as immediate relief. Addressing the media, DGP Harish Kumar Gupta said the couple surrendered due to growing disillusionment with the Maoist ideology and the internal failures of the CPI (Maoist) party. He stated that the movement is steadily losing support and strength. The DGP also revealed that security forces had recently unearthed a significant weapons dump belonging to the Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) Maoist cadre, who fled during encounters over the past three months. The recovered cache included one AK-47, two grenade launchers, five SLRs, two INSAS rifles, 606 live rounds of ammunition, and 37 kg of cordex wire. In addition, the DGP distributed cheques totaling Rs21 lakh to 13 underground Maoist cadre who had recently surrendered. In the past year alone, police engaged in five exchanges of fire, resulting in the neutralisation of six Maoists. A total of 40 underground cadre have surrendered, including two divisional committee secretaries and 15 area committee members. Gupta stated that around 20 Maoist cadre from Andhra Pradesh — including five zonal committee members — are still active. He appealed to them to surrender and rejoin mainstream society within seven months, warning that police will take firm action if they do not. The DGP also mentioned ongoing efforts to train tribal youth to enhance employment opportunities, noting that several tainees have already secured jobs. Senior police officials including IGP Operations Ch Srikanth, commissioner of police S V Rajasekhar Babu (Vijayawada), IGP Intelligence P H D Ramakrishna, and DIG Visakhapatnam Range Gopinath Jatti were present during the press meet.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh: 25 Maoists including top SZCM surrender in Bijapur with collective bounties worth Rs 1.15 cr
RAIPUR: In a major blow to the CPI (Maoists), 25 hardcore cadres, including a top State Zonal Committee Member (SZCM) carrying a bounty of Rs 25 lakh, surrendered before senior police and paramilitary officials in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Thursday. The total bounty on the surrendered Maoists amounts to Rs 1.15 crore. The surrender was facilitated under the Chhattisgarh government's revised surrender and rehabilitation policy and senior police officials briefing the press said that it marks a turning point in the state's sustained counter-insurgency efforts, particularly in deep forested zones like Bijapur, where new security camps and road infrastructure have begun reaching previously untouched areas. The highest-ranking surrender was Ramanna Irpa alias Jagdish alias Vikesh, a 37-year-old SZCM and commander-in-chief of Company number 8, who was active since 2002 and carried a Rs 25 lakh bounty. He was strategist behind multiple high-profile ambushes on security forces in Odisha and Chhattisgarh and his job was to oversee arms supply, jungle warfare training camps, and inter-state coordination. Police said that as per the records, he was active since 2002 and was considered the 'nerve center' of CPI (Maoist) operations in Odisha's southern corridor and had been operating in the 'Red Triangle' between Malkangiri, Sukma, and Bijapur. Another cadre Sukku Kalmu alias Vinod Karma on the rank of Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) operated in National Park Area Committee and led Maoist student fronts. He carried Rs 8 lakh bounty and was active since1999. He was known for radicalizing tribal youth through front organizations and leading armed protests. Played a key role in enforcing Maoist rule in the Abujhmarh forest belt. Police officials, including Bastar Range IG P Sundarraj, Dantewada DIG Kamalochan Kashyap, and Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar Yadav, along with CRPF, CoBRA and DRG were present during the formal surrender. SP Yadav said, 'This is a significant dent in the Maoist leadership hierarchy. The surrender of an SZCM shows the ideological and operational breakdown within the outfit.' In statements made during the debriefing, many Maoists cited internal dissent, exploitation within the outfit, and disillusionment with extremist ideology as major reasons for quitting. Several cadres mentioned their desire to 'rejoin the mainstream' and live peaceful lives with their families. SP Jitendra Yadav urged remaining Maoist operatives to abandon violence and take advantage of the government's rehabilitation scheme. 'The door to peaceful and dignified life is wide open. Your families want you back. Leave the false promises of outside elements behind,' he appealed. Since January 2025, Bijapur district has witnessed intensified anti-Maoist operations, resulting in significant setbacks for the insurgent network. Over this period, 242 Maoists have surrendered, choosing to join the mainstream under the state's rehabilitation policy. In addition, 300 cadres have been arrested, and 127 Maoists have been killed in various encounters across the region.
