37 Maoists surrender in Telangana; Top leaders with ₹20 L bounty among them

Hyderabad: In a significant development in the state’s anti-Maoist efforts, 37 members of the CPI (Maoist) from Telangana and Chhattisgarh surrendered before Telangana DGP B Shivadhar Reddy in Hyderabad on Saturday.

The move marks one of the largest coordinated surrenders by the outlawed group in recent months.

Senior leaders among the surrendered

Among those who surrendered are high-ranking Maoist leaders Koyyada Sambaiah alias Azad (49) of Mulugu district and Appasi Narayana alias Ramesh (70) of Peddapalli district, both of whom carried a reward of Rs 20 lakh each.

Another prominent surrender includes Muchaki Somada alias Erra (42), a State Committee member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and a native of Chhattisgarh, who also had a Rs 20 lakh bounty.

The surrender of these senior figures is being viewed as a major blow to the organisational structure of the Maoist outfit.

Arms, ammunition and cash handed over

Seven members from the group surrendered a collection of firearms comprising one AK-47, two Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), four .303 rifles, and one G3 rifle. Police said a total of 346 live rounds of various calibres were submitted.

Authorities also revealed that Rs 1.41 crore was provided as part of the government’s rehabilitation package to support the reintegration of the cadres into society.

Shift toward peaceful mainstream life

DGP Shivadhar Reddy said the surrender indicates a growing sense of disillusionment among Maoist cadres and reflects a positive response to the government’s appeal. “Their decision demonstrates a conscious step away from violence. They have chosen to prioritise health, family and a dignified, lawful future,” he said.

Declining strength and internal friction

The DGP said the organisation is witnessing declining operational strength, weakening communication networks and a shrinking support base due to sustained security pressure. Internal ideological disagreements and doubts about the relevance of the movement have also contributed to the rise in surrenders.

At present, 59 Maoist cadres from Telangana remain active within the organisation. Notably, five of the eight Central Committee members are from Telangana, reflecting the state’s historical presence in Maoist leadership.

High surrender count in 2025

With the latest group surrender, the number of Maoist cadres who have laid down arms in Telangana this year has reached 465, indicating a steady decline in the militant presence across affected regions.

Call for remaining cadres to return

Reiterating the government’s rehabilitation assurance, the DGP appealed to remaining Maoist operatives to surrender through police, mediators, revenue officials, elected representatives, journalists or family members.

“We guarantee support and rehabilitation as per government guidelines. The doors to return to normal life remain open.The latest surrender is expected to further weaken Maoist influence in Telangana’s forest corridors and adjoining border regions, signalling continued progress in counter-insurgency efforts,” Shivadhar Reddy said.