Three key Maoist leaders surrendered before Telangana DGP Shivdhar Reddy. The DGP said that they are ready to meet in the mainstream of life as per the call given by the government. Kunkati Venkatayya alias Vikas, Mogilicherla Venkatraju alias Chandu, and Totem Ganga alias Soni (Chhattisgarh) have decided to leave their weapons and meet among the people, the DGP said.
He said that these three leaders worked in key positions in the South Bastar Dalam. Mogilicherla Chandu (45) was made a Maoist State Committee member. DGP Shashidhar Reddy said “Kunkati Venkataiah, Mogilicherla Venkataraju, Totem Ganga… (Chhattisgarh) are ready to come out of the Maoist Party and join the mainstream of the people. All of them are state-level leaders of the Maoist Party Committee”.
“Kunkati Venkataiah, who belongs to Siddipet district of Telangana, attended the farmer-laborer meetings organized by the PWG in 1990. Later, he went into hiding the same year. He joined the force led by PWG Commander Balanna. After that, he gradually rose in the party and served in various positions for 35 years”, he added.
On the other hand, Mogilicherla Venkataraju (45) from Thatikayala village in Dharmasagar mandal of Hanamkonda district also surrendered. “He was attracted to revolutionary songs at the age of 11. Later, he joined the Maoist movement. After joining the Narsampet Dal in 1993, he worked in various positions in the state-level committee. However, recently, due to ideological differences with the Maoists, he wanted to leave the party”, the DGP said.
Now, on the call given by the police department, he surrendered before the police along with his wife Todem Ganga alias Soni, he added. The DGP said that 403 Maoists have surrendered in the recent past, of which 72 Maoists are from Telangana. He revealed that out of the 12 central committee members who surrendered, 10 are from Telangana. The DGP expressed hope that more key Maoist leaders will join the mainstream in the coming days.