Top Maoist Leader Surrenders in Telangana
The Maoist movement in India just took a huge hit. Their leader, Tippiri Tirupati (also called Dev Ji), surrendered to Telangana police on Tuesday. Dev Ji had been a key figure in Maoist politics for 40 years, so his surrender is a massive loss for the group.
Who Surrendered?
Dev Ji wasn’t alone. Top leaders Malla Rajireddy, Nunney Narasimhu, and Bade Chokka Rao surrendered with him. They publicly announced they’re leaving the armed struggle to join normal life. Rumors swirled that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy would be there, but the official handover happened with police chief DGP Shivdhar Reddy.
Is This the End for Maoists?
Police believe Dev Ji’s surrender marks the collapse of the Maoist party. DGP Reddy stated only 11 Maoists from Telangana remain active and hinted more might surrender soon. The group’s former head, Ganapathi, is missing. Some think he fled abroad as government crackdowns intensified.
Government Crackdown Crushes Rebels
The Indian government promised to wipe out Maoism by March 31st this year. Security forces stormed jungle bases where rebels once ran parallel governments. Violent encounters left Maoists with no safe hideouts, forcing them to choose: surrender or die. Many leaders died; others gave up.
Telangana’s Surrender Strategy Works
While nationwide operations hunted rebels, Telangana focused on convincing Maoists to surrender peacefully. This approach worked better than anywhere else in India. With leaders like Dev Ji surrendering, police say no senior figure can hide anymore.
Record Surrender Numbers
Telangana’s strategy led to stunning results:
- 591 total surrenders in the state
- 16 senior leaders & 26 committee members gave up
- 85 area commanders & 60 party members surrendered
Dev Ji and others actually contacted police asking to surrender. He and Mallareddy had ₹25 lakh bounties—which police confirmed they’ll receive.
