Thirty-seven underground members of the banned CPI (Maoist), including three senior State Committee Members, returned to the mainstream in Hyderabad, Telangana. They include 25 women who surrendered before Telangana Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy. They also surrendered 8 firearms, including one K-47 and some live ammunition. Addressing the media, Mr Reddy said, it is one of the most substantial setbacks to the banned party in recent years. All of them have been present at the media briefing. The three senior leaders who surrendered include Koyyada Sambaiah known as Azad, a native of Mulugu district who had spent 31 years underground. Appasi Narayana known as Ramesh, from Peddapalli district spent 32 years underground and Muchaki Somada known as Erra, a native of Sukma district, served as State Committee Member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.
The DGP further said the collective decision of the 37 cadres was influenced by the recent appeal by the State government to renounce violence and return to civilian life. He said the sustained operations, ideological disagreements, internal rifts and constant mobility restrictions had contributed to the weakening of the CPI (Maoist) across the region. The Stats Committee members have been given 20 lakh rupees while the total reward amount is 1 crore 41 lakh 5 thousand rupees, handed over through cheques and demand drafts, with further support to follow.
