Telangana Timeline 2017

Date

Incidents

January 4

The Police Department is fortifying 24 Police Stations in the areas affected by Naxalism in Telangana. The Government machinery in Telangana, particularly the Police Department, is anticipating trouble from the CPI-Maoist cadres in the coming days. New state-of-the-art Police Stations is being constructed at a total cost of INR 500 million. Each of these 24 Police Stations will have impenetrable fencing and reinforced sentry points, both at the entry point and on the rooftop, where armed Police personnel would keep guard round the clock, sources said. Further, the Government is developing two state-of-the-art Police Training Centers - one in Karimnagar District at a cost of INR 480 million; and the other one at Medchal in Medchal-Malkajgiri District, at a cost of INR 300 million where Police recruits would be trained to be battle-ready. Also, the Government is raising two IRBs in the State, the sources said. This being so, recruitment has slowly begun among CPI-Maoist circles. The recruits are being trained in what is considered a safe bastion: Chhattisgarh. This time, the CPI- Maoist cadres will have good firepower, since they are getting the support of CCOMPOSA, sources said. DGP, Anurag Sharma recently said that they would not allow the Maoists to make a comeback in the State.

The UMHA flagged the operational efficiency of SFs in the Naxal-affected areas as one of its biggest achievements during a presentation before PM Narendra Modi. The Ministry informed Modi that since the NDA Government came to power in May 2014, there had been a 45 per cent increase in the efficiency of Central Forces (CFs) in operations against the Naxals. In a presentation made by Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi, Modi and other officials were informed that the number of Naxal cadres killed in 2016 had been the highest ever in six years. Eighty-Four cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in 2015 and in 2016, the number swelled to 218, which was an increase of 160 per cent. There was also an increase in the number of Police encounter from 237 in 2015 to 316 in 2016. UHM Rajnath Singh told in a press conference earlier this week that demonetization had increased the problems of CPI-Maoist and that they had weakened. The EFC has already given the go-ahead for an ambitious road project in the 44 worst Naxal-affected Districts. Under this project, the Government proposes to construct 5,412 km of roads and 126 bridges and it would cost INR 117.25 million. The Government is redrawing the 'Red Corridor' - the area affected by LWE - and may soon take off 20 Districts from the list of Naxal-affected areas. The 106 Districts which span 10 States - Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - constitute the Red Corridor. Of these, 44 Districts are said to be the worst affected. India has a total of 683 Districts.

The District Police have arrested a relative of Naxalite, Thota Ramulu (35), in Karimnagar District. Ramulu is the relative of Jadala Nagaraju, a surrendered Naxalite told Karimnagar Commissioner of Police, V B Kamalasan Reddy. Police have recovered 50 rounds of ammunition of different weapons, a 18mm rifle, one SBBL rifle, three DBBL rifles, one 9 mm carbine, one .32 pistol, a 8mm tapancha from his house at Karimnagar town.

SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist action team members and a newly recruited member in Hanamkonda District of Telangana. The arrested were identified as T Devender alias Rama Rao of Sudhanapalli in Hasanparthy Mandal, Bhukya Srinivas alias P Srinu of Ponugodu of Gudur Mandal and Ch Narayana Swamy of Sriramulapalli of Kamalapur Mandal. The newly recruited member has been identified as Lingala Vennela alias Dhannu of Paidipalli in Hasanparthy Mandal. A case under sections 10, 13, 18(B) of UAP Act 1967, section 25 (1-B) (9) of Arms Act 1959, section 5 of ES Act 1908, section 8 of TSPS (APPS) Act was booked against them at KCU Police Station.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a private bus at Metlacheruvu village under Bhadrakali Police limits in Suryapet District of Telangana. The bus was carrying about 26 passengers to Bijapur of Chhattisgarh from Venkatapuram of Jayashankar Bhupalapally District.

An uneasy calm reigned over the interior tribal pockets in Bhadrachalam division in Khammam District, along the restive inter-State border AP and Chhattisgarh during the nation-wide bandh called by CPI-Maoist against "Operation Green Hunt". The bandh had some impact on the bus services in the remote tribal areas in Charla and Dummugudem mandals adjoining the strife-ridden south Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. The Bhadrachalam sub-division Police also intensified road opening patrol in the interior areas bordering AP.

An IED planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres was discovered by villagers in Venkatapuram Mandal of the Jayshankar Bhupalapally District. Local Police officials cautioned villagers and shepherds not to enter into the forest as they had no clue as to how many such IEDs may have been planted by CPI-Maoist cadres.

An IED planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres was discovered by villagers in Venkatapuram Mandal of the Jayshankar Bhupalapally District. Local Police officials cautioned villagers and shepherds not to enter into the forest as they had no clue as to how many such IEDs may have been planted by CPI-Maoist cadres.

The CISF is raising a STW in Hyderabad District. The STW are being raised on the lines of SWAT, and will cater to the needs of hypersensitive airports, and sensitive units in Naxal-affected areas. The role of bomb disposal squad and quick reaction team will be focused upon in STE to counter the aircraft hijacking and other contingencies like armed attack and IED threats, said CISF DG, OP Singh.

A landmine, planted by CPI-Maoist cadres, on a road leading to Palem Vagu irrigation project near Rachapally village at Venkatapuram Mandal in Jayashankar Bhupalapally District was defused by the Police. SP, R Bhaskaran told that since the village was near the Chhattisgarh border, the CPI-Maoist group, in order to establish their presence, planted the landmine and tried to create panic among the locals. The landmine was spotted by the workers of the Palem Vagu project on March 4, and the Police was informed about it.

District Police arrested three CPI-Maoist sympathisers and recovered explosives from their possession at Charla forest region in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Accused were identified as Mohan of Mahbubabad, Gunji Vikram and Sode Deva from Chhattisgarh. It is learnt that the arrested persons took INR 80,000 from the CPI-Maoist cadres to bring explosives from Yampuram market in Chhattisgarh.

The District Police arrested two suspected CPI-Maoist couriers while they were allegedly transporting detonator fuse wires in Khammam District. The Police also seized 3,000 metres of fuse wire from Madivi Kosa (21) and Madakam Kamulu (23) both residents of Bijapur District of Karnataka had purchased the fuse wire from one Mohan for INR 40,000, on the instructions of Haribhishan, Damodar, Azad and others and were arrested during vehicle checking, said Charla Police. The arrestees are allegedly members of the Pamedu LOS and were working under their 'commander' Kamalakka, Police said.

Taking stock of loses suffered in recent encounters in Chhattisgarh due to lack of a strong courier system, the CPI-Maoist is seeking to spread its activities and the outfit is planning to establish a faithful courier system in Khammam District. According to information, the CPI-Maoist leadership is planning to recruit new cadres and also recruit couriers by offering huge amounts as they cannot survive without couriers as all materials, medicines and essential commodities including arms are supplied by the couriers to them. It is learnt that Maoist recruitment is ongoing near the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. Maoists are focusing on Guttikoyas and unemployed tribals and luring them with their preaching.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, Madivi Kosaiah and Madivi Joga, were arrested by a combined squad of Charla Police and CRPF personnel from the remote forest areas of Danavaipeta forest at Bhadrachalam Agency in Bhadradri District. SFs also recovered six wall posters of CPI-Maoist.

A 'militia commander' of CPI-Maoist, Madivi Idama, and two cadres, R Hanumaiah and K Nagesh, were arrested in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District. The trio belonged to Bijapur District in Chhattisgarh and were working for Venkatapur Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District for the last five years.

The DG of CRPF, Sudeep Lakhtakia, appreciated Saina Nehwal's gesture of contributing INR 600,000 for the next of kin of martyrs who were killed in a CPI-Maoist attack in Chattisgarh.

SP, M Sreenivas reiterated, in a press statement, that there was no movement of the CPI-Maoist cadres in the Adilabad District of Telangana. He dismissed the news reports that claimed CPI-Maoist cadres had paid tributes to victims of the infamous Police firing incident at Indervelli Mandal centre by visiting martyrs column on April 20.

Police arrested six CPI-Maoist sympathisers from Yadadri District and recovered firearms and explosives from them. "Six Maoist sympathisers were arrested by Siddipet police on the basis of a specific input. Police recovered one revolver, three pistols, 49 live rounds, two magazines and 20 electronic detonators from them," Siddipet Police Commissioner Shiv Kumar said.

Police Commissioner Kumar said that Police arrested one R Swamy, working as a courier for Maoists, from the Venkatraopet village in Siddipet District. "Based on the information given by him, raids were conducted in Hyderabad and Yadadri-Bhuvangiri District and five others were arrested today," the Police Commissioner said. They are identified as V Ramachandram, who hails from Nalgonda District in Telangana, Ranjit Kumar, a native of Jaunpur District in Uttar Pradesh, B Narasimha Chary and G Venkatesh (both from Yadari District), and N Balaswamy, who hails from Siddipet District, the officer said. He said Ranjit Kumar is the supplier of arms. "V Ramchandram had purchased a pistol from Kumar for Rs 60,000 in 2012 whereas R Swamy recently purchased two pistols, two magazines and 39 bullets for Rs 80,000 from Kumar," he said, adding that several cases are pending against Ramchandram in Nalgonda District.

The Charla Police in a joint operation with the CRPF personnel arrested two "militia members" of the CPI-Maoist at Charla Mandal in Khammam District. The arrested were identified as Madakam Moodaiah (19) of Chennapuram and Sodi Somaiah (20), of Battigudem of Charla Mandal. The SFs recovered a medical kit containing medicines, surgical cotton and syringes from the possession of the duo.

The GoI has agreed to deploy three companies of CRPF personnel in Telangana to help the state Police tackle the CPI-Maoist cadres threat for some of its irrigation projects. One company will be deployed to protect Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project at Medigadda in Karimnagar District, while another company will be deployed at Tupakulagudem Barrage and the third company will be deployed either at Adilabad or Khammam District depending on the requirement.

Two former CPI-Maoist cadres, Mancharla Srinivas (39) of Mandamarri and Ambala Rajamallu (42) of Bellampalli in Mancherial District, were arrested at Godavarikhani in Peddapalli District. They were former members of the Sikasa (Singareni Karmika Samakhya), a CPI-Maoist front. Police recovered INR 82,000 and two dummy pistols from their possession.

Three CPI-Maoist sympathisers were arrested near Taliperu Project in Cherla Mandal in Khammam District, while the car was on its way to Chhattisgarh. A Bolero vehicle was seized, along with four mobile phones and INR 2 million recovered from the trio. The arrested are identified as Goutham Beedi Company MD Nayumiddun, Assistant Manager SK Makbul Hussain and Bolero driver Md Abdul Manjur.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres threatened, BJP leader and Gandhi Patham District Convener, Busireddy Sankar Reddy at Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri District. CPI-Maoist cadres demanded INR 0.2 million and a cell phone from him.

In the run up to the 50th anniversary of the 'Naxalbari armed uprising', the CPI-Maoist cadres have intensified poster campaign at Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The Sabari-Charla Area Committee (SCAC) of the CPI-Maoist via poster has urged people to fight against "sand and mining mafia" to protect the interests of Adivasis in the Agency areas.

Two CPI-Maoist couriers were arrested by Police at Charla Mandal in Khammam District. The arrested were identified as P. Girinarayana (30), a Bhadrachalam-based trader who sells Ayurvedic medicines, and R. Venkateshwarlu (26), a private employee of Burgampadu Mandal. The arrested couriers were acting on the directions of some Maoist leaders in Chhattisgarh who gave them INR 0.2 million cash for purchase of medicines, iron pipes and other material. Police also seized tablets, injections, ORS packets, two tabs, three mobile phones and electric detonators and iron pipes from them.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres erected a banner and put up handwritten posters near Taliperu medium irrigation project site in Charla mandal in Khammam District, symbolically marking the beginning of the week-long 50th anniversary of "Naxalbari armed uprising. The rebels, through the posters written in the name of CPI-Maoist Charla-Sabari Area Committee, called upon people to spearhead the "New democratic revolution".

The Manuguru Police arrested a mason on the charge of acting as a courier for CPI-Maoist cadres at Manuguru town in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Police identified the arrested as B Suresh alias Rakesh, of Edulla Bayyaram. He is presently working as a mason in Dummugudem Mandal bordering Chhattisgarh. Police seized INR 0.28 million and Maoist literature from his possession.

Police personnel working in Naxal-affected areas in Telangana have sought sophisticated weapons and other protective gears to take part in operations against the CPI-Maoist cadres during emergency situations from the Union Government. The Telangana Police also highlighted the lack of facilities including infrastructure and other logistics in the newly-formed Police stations, divisional offices and administrative offices in districts. The Policemen also brought the issue of lack of coordination between police officials from the rank of DSPs and SIs that impacted badly on investigation and law and order.

Two cadres of Charla LOS of the CPI-Maoist, surrendered before Bhadrachalam ASP, Sunil Dutt, in the Mandal headquarters town of Charla in Khammam District. Police identified the surrendered duo as Irpa Laxman Rao alias Bharath (28) of Pusuguppa, and S Murali (35) of Vuyyalamadugu of Charla Mandal. Laxman worked as a courier for CPI-Maoist cadres from 2008 to 2013 before being appointed as a dalam member the same year. Murali surrendered following the death of his wife due to ill health recently.

Two CPI-Maoist 'militia commanders', one belonging to the RPC and another to CNM, of the CPI-Maoist were arrested by the Police during an area domination operation near Taliperu dam in Charla mandal of Bhadrachalam division in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The duo were identified as RPC 'militia commander' Kalma Lakma alias Mahesh (22), of Chennapuram, and CNM 'militia commander' Podium Idamaiah (25), of Yerrampadu in Charla mandal. A steel box weighing about 5 kilograms, 10 meter cordex wire, 24 iron pieces and other material were recovered from the duo when they were arrested at Taliperu dam by a joint squad of the District special party police and the CRPF personnel of 141 Battalion.

Mallam Jogaiah, a militia 'commander' of the CPI-Maoist, who is wanted in 16 cases of Maoist violence including two murder cases, surrendered before the ASP, Sunil Dutt in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. Jogaiah was an active militia 'commander' of the CPI-Maoist affiliated to Rythu Coolie Sangham (Agricultural labourers association) and operating under the aegis of the outfit's Charla LOS till his surrender. He hails from Yerraboru, an interior forest fringe village in Charla mandal bordering the strife-torn areas of neighbouring Chhattisgarh. He joined the CPI-Maoist, inspired by the revolutionary songs, in 2011. He worked as a militia member till 2013 before being elevated to the rank of militia 'commander'. He was allegedly involved in the killing of two persons by branding them as "police informers" in Charla mandal in 2014. He has several other criminal cases including planting of land mine pending against him under the Charla and Dummugudem Police Station limits.

The Charla Police claimed to have arrested two CPI-Maoist militia members and a sympathiser from Kaliveru village in Charla Tehsil of Khammam District. Police sources said a joint squad of the Charla Police and the CRPF personnel arrested the trio during a vehicle checking drive after spotting them moving suspiciously at Peddamidisileru crossroads near Kaliveru. According to Police, the trio was identified as K Jogaiah (39), and M. Irmaiah (29), of Burugupadu village and Maoist sympathiser Sushanth alias Susen (22), a petty vendor, in Charla. Several strips of tablets of various brands and seven batteries, including three multi-purpose heavy-duty batteries, were recovered from their possession, the Police said. They said the three arrested were heading towards the forest fringe areas of Chhattisgarh to handover the consignment to the Maoists.

A CPI-Maoist dalam member and six cadres of the RPC of Charla mandal surrendered before the ASP, Sunil Dutt in Bhadrachalam town in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. All of them hail from Chennapuram, a remote tribal hamlet under the Pedda Midisileru gram panchayat in the tribal sub-plan mandal of Charla of Bhadrachalam division. The surrendered include Madakam Laxmaiah (23), dalam member of CPI-Maoist Charla and Manuguru area committee, Tellam Kosa (35), 'secretary' of Chennapuram RPC and Kudam Adama (28), 'deputy secretary' of RPC, besides four other members of the RPC, Police said.

The CPI-Maoist cadres have succeeded in distributing pamphlets on 'martyrs' memorial week' celebrations to be conducted from July 28 to August 3. Hundreds of pamphlets have been found in the Tadwai and Pasra forest area in Kamareddy District. The leaflets were found scattered on NH 153 at Tadwai mandal headquarters in the name of TSC of CPI-Maoist. The party called upon the public in the villages to observe the 'martyrs' memorial week' and pay homage to the martyrs. The Maoists accused the State and Central Governments of resorting to anti-people policies while protecting the interests of corporate and multi-national forces as part of globalisation policy. Both the Governments were spending huge amounts on strengthening Police wing aimed making it powerful to fight against the forces that were questioning their misdeeds.

Mahabubabad Police arrested Madhu, a 'regional Committee Secretary' of the CPI-ML (New Democracy), in Mahabubabad District. Police recovered one Sten gun, 10 bullets, one kit bag and revolutionary literature from him. The Police also arrested two other persons acting as couriers to the Naxal group - Kantha Rao and Prasad. They are said to be members of AGP.

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including a Chhattisgarh-based woman cadre, surrendered before the Police in Bhadradri District of Telangana. The surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres were identified as Karatam Idumaiah (25) and Madivi Jamili (23), both members of the CRC of the CPI-Maoist.

The CPI-Maoist cadres are in process of forming village level teams to strengthen their strong hold in the AOB region. The development comes a year after the CPI-Maoist cadres suffered a major setback in an encounter at the AOB in which around 31 CPI-Maoists were killed along with Adivasis (Tribals). The Telangana State Committee (TSC) of the CPI-Maoist cadres with the Adilabad District committee, Khammam District committee and Khammam-Karimnagar-Warangal Divisional Committee with Special Guerrilla Squad and 92 cadres are tasked to continue their activities in the region.

A joint team of the Telangana Police and the CRPF arrested a cadre of the CPI-Maoist near Lenin Colony at Charla Mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. CPI-Maoist cadre was identified as Madivi Ungaiah alias Dudi (33). Police also recovered four wall posters from his possession. Ungaiah had been working as a Militia member of the CPI-Maoist's Shabari Area Committee for the past five years.

Two Naxalites of the CPI-ML-Janashakti, identified as Moorthy Srinivas Reddy and Manwada Vasanth, were arrested at Gagapur village of Chinnakodur mandal in Siddipet District, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police Narasimha Reddy. They were arrested when they went to the village to settle a land issue. One pistol and five bullets were seized from them. The Police informed that the Janashakti was in an expansion mode and trying to get money by threatening people. They said that Vasanth was involved in supplying of weapons to the Naxalites. Srinivas Reddy has been acting on the instructions of Kura Rajanna alias K.R. Kura Devender alias Amar, Narsi Reddy alias Viswanatham and Bhim Bharath.

In a joint operation, Charla Police and the CRPF arrested an 'area committee member' of the CPI-Maoist, Madivi Chukka alias Diwakar (28), from Unjupalli forest area under Charla Police Station in Khammam District. Diwakar was one of the accused in the killing of a home guard attached to Dummugudem Police Station at the pilgrim centre of Parnashala in Bhadrachalam division in 2013.

A "commander-rank" cadre of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Police in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. CPI-Maoist Manuguru LOS 'commander' Sodi Devaiah alias Mallesh (22), surrendered before Bhadrachalam ASP, Sunil Dutt, Police sources said. Devaiah is a native of Rallagatta, an interior tribal habitation, in Charla mandal. He was allegedly involved in 21 cases of Maoist violence under the jurisdiction limits of Charla, Dummugudem and Venkatapuram Police Stations.

A farmer was killed by suspected Naxalites of the CPI-ML-New Democracy-Red Flag, at Narsampet village in Palwancha mandal in Khammam District. The Police identified the deceased as Rayala Bhaskar (55), of Narsampet, a hamlet under Pandurangapuram Gram Panchayat and a supporter of the TDP. Sources said around 15 Naxalites owing allegiance to CPI-ML-New Democracy-Red Flag's, Ravi Dalam allegedly barged into the house of Bhaskar and dragged him out before battering him to death in full public view. The Naxalites nursed a grudge against the deceased for reportedly seeking the help of the members of Chandranna group of CPI-ML (New Democracy) to resolve an internal issue in the village.

The CPI-Maoist cadres have revived their project to build rocket launchers, which is considered to be a game changer in guerrilla warfare, according to top sources in the anti-Naxal intelligence agencies in Telangana. The intelligence agencies believe that CPI-Maoist cadres were working on improvising the rocket launchers as earlier attempts to put them to full use on SFs had failed. A top intelligence official of Telangana state said, "They have a central technical committee that is focusing on improvising rocket launchers. Their factory is now located in Dandakaranya."

Two CPI-Maoist militia members were arrested by the Charla Police, in a joint operation with the CRPF personnel at Kaliveru village in the Charla mandal in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. Police identified the arrested duo as Madivi alias Kodi Vinod (25), and Muski Soma (23), of Battigudem village under Peddamidisileru Gram Panchayat in the District. The team also seized some medicines from their possession.

A CPI-Maoist poster in the name of Khammam-Karimnagar and Warangal (KKW) District 'committee secretary' Damodar was found near the proposed site of the open cast - II mine in Bhupalpalli town in Jayashankar Bhupalapally District. The poster said that Assembly Speaker S. Madhusudhana Chary and his three sons were cheating people and they would be taught a lesson. The poster also said that the Maoist party was against land acquisition and alleged that the State Government was forcibly acquiring land belonging to SCs and STs thereby rendering them landless.

A wall poster threatening some local "landlords" surfaced in the name of the CPI-Maoist cadres at Charla town in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The handwritten wall poster bearing the name of CPI-Maoist Charla-Sabari Area Committee created ripples in the town. The poster warned some "landlords" and errant private moneylenders against exploiting tribal people. It contained slogans with a veiled threat to the "local TRS leaders" and denouncing the alleged move to construct new Police station buildings in the Agency areas.

A CPI-Maoist 'Militia Platoon Section Commander', Podiyam Lakku (20) and a woman Militia, Sodi Laxmi, surrendered before the ASP, Eturnagaram in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District. The Police also said that no cases will be booked against those persons who have surrendered and will also be provided relief by the government.

A joint squad of Police and CRPF arrested two cadres of the CPI-Maoist at Lenin Colony in Charla Mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The arrested were identified as G. Kishor Kumar (35), a 'Maoist courier' of Charla town and Sodi Devaiah (28) a 'Maoist militia member' of Korakatpadu. SFs recovered injections, eye and ear drops, surgical spirit and absorbent cotton.

A cadre of the CPI-ML (New Democracy), Burka Pratap alias Shyam, was arrested by the Police in Warangal District. Police recovered a kit bag, five SLRs live rounds and revolutionary literature from him.

Charla Police arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as M Mangaiah and K Nagaiah, in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. Police also recovered wall posters from the arrested CPI-Maoist cadres.

A woman "deputy commander" of Charla LOS of CPI-Maoist, Madivi Budri alias Bhadri (18), surrendered before SP, Ambar Kishor Jha at Kothagudem town in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. Budri belongs to Korakatpadu village under Kurnapalli Gram Panchayat. Sources said that she was shifted to Charla LOS after the surrender of Sunita and subsequently elevated as 'Area Committee Member'. She was allegedly involved in a total of 10 cases of Maoist violence including two attempt murder cases under different Police Station limits in Bhadrachalam Division.

CPI-Maoist Charla 'Area Committee Member' Madakam Jogi alias Kamala (22), surrendered before ASP, Sunil Dutt in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. The surrendered woman Maoist belongs to Kistarampadu village under Peddamidisileru gram panchayat in Charla mandal. Kamala was allegedly involved in eight cases of Maoist violence, including one murder and five cases related to planting land mines, Police said.

Two cadres of CPI-ML-New Democracy were killed in an encounter in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The encounter took place while Police were combing the Sidharam forest area in Tekulapalli Mandal when CPI-ML cadres' of Ramanna Dalam resulting in the exchange of fire.

The Police and the underground cadre of the CPI-ML-New Democracy Chandranna faction, headed by Ramanna, allegedly exchanged fire in the Siddaram forest area in Tekulapally mandal in Khammam District. However, no casualties were reported in the exchange of fire that reportedly lasted for about 15 minutes. The Police arrested one of the underground cadres of the squad after a chase soon after the exchange of fire stopped. He was identified as Madivi Bheema alias Gowtham (19), of Narsampeta in Palvancha mandal, Police said. The Police subsequently seized two 8 mm rifles, a revolver and an air gun besides 54 live rounds of ammunition, 11 kit bags and six olive green dresses from the incident site. Bheema was allegedly involved, along with other members of the squad, in the last month's murder of Rayala Bhaskar, a farmer of Narsampeta.

The Police and the underground cadre of the CPI-ML-New Democracy Chandranna faction, headed by Ramanna, allegedly exchanged fire in the Siddaram forest area in Tekulapally mandal in Khammam District. However, no casualties were reported in the exchange of fire that reportedly lasted for about 15 minutes. The Police arrested one of the underground cadres of the squad after a chase soon after the exchange of fire stopped. He was identified as Madivi Bheema alias Gowtham (19), of Narsampeta in Palvancha mandal, Police said. The Police subsequently seized two 8 mm rifles, a revolver and an air gun besides 54 live rounds of ammunition, 11 kit bags and six olive green dresses from the incident site. Bheema was allegedly involved, along with other members of the squad, in the last month's murder of Rayala Bhaskar, a farmer of Narsampeta.

According to the sources in the anti-Naxal intelligence agencies the PGLA committees of the CPI-Maoist has reorganized themselves in accordance to newly created Districts in Telangana. The CPI-Maoist cadres were functioning with a divisional committee of the Khammam-Karimnagar-Warangal (KKW) led by Bade Chokka Rao aka Damodar and a District committee of Adilabad. Damodar was trying to build base in the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. Now they have formed divisional committees for Mancherial-Kumaram Bheem Asifabad, Jayashankar Bhupalpally-Mahabubabad-Warangal-Peddapally and Khammam-Bhadradri Kothagudem. A senior Police official told, "They have few cadres on ground but they are trying to rework on with the changed geographic allocations."

September 23

Gujarat ATS arrested Sriramula Venkatam, wanted in a case registered in 2010 at Kamrej Police Station of Surat District, in Hyderabad. Senior sources in the ATS said that while a warrant was issued against Venkatam by a Surat court because he was absconding for about seven years, they received a tip-off that the wanted man was based at Hyderabad and running a small-time travel agency and also working as an estate agent. "We dispatched a police team headed by Inspector Nikhil Brahmbhatt to Hyderabad and arrested him. He has been brought to the city by air. We will be handing him over to the Surat district police as he is wanted in a case," a senior ATS official said. The case was regarding Naxal activities in the area. Sources in the Gujarat ATS said that Venkatam used to head the team of Naxals in Kamrej which was planning to carry out disruptive activities in the area.

The Charla Police arrested one Madivi Pinnu alias Srinu (30) of Pouruguda in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh, on charge of acting as a courier for CPI-Maoist cadres from Charla tehsil of Khammam District. The Police said they held him during a vehicle checking drive while he was travelling on a bicycle at Lenin Colony in Charla mandal. A consignment of medicines valued at INR 10,000 meant for the Maoists based in the neighbouring State was seized from his possession, Police said.

Two Chhattisgarh-based Maoists, including a senior cadre of the rank of the 'district committee member' of the CRC-II, surrendered before the Police in the presence of ASP, Sunil Dutt in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Police said Doddi Nandu (27), company 'platoon commander', and Sodi Muke (25), a member of the CRC-II based in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, gave themselves up before the ASP following persistent efforts by the Police through their family members to convince them to join the mainstream. Nandu hails from Gottodu village of Bijapur District in Chhattisgarh. Sodi Muke belongs to Chennapuram in Charla mandal of Bhadrachalam division in ?Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Nandu was enrolled into the CPI-Maoist Balala Sangham when he was ten years old, and Sodi Muke joined the outlawed outfit as militia member in 2011, the Police said.

A 'deputy commander' of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Kondagorla Ravinder alias Vinod (25) surrendered to the Police at Eturnagaram in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District. Ravinder, a resident of Bore Narsapur, Mangapet mandal, working as 'deputy commander' of Eturnagaram-Mahadevpur Area Committee and member of JMPW Area Committee, previously known as KKW, studied up to fifth class and worked in a printing press from 2009 to 2012, carrying a cash reward of INR 400,000 on his head, surrendered with a weapon. Ravinder was involved in burning of mini transport vehicles on the outskirts of Duddeda village in Chhattisgarh in 2014, setting on fire the vehicles of road contractor at Tekulagdudem in 2015. He was involved in exchange of fire at Bottentang in 2016, and also in attack on CRPF personnel at Burkapad in 2017. Ravinder went underground in 2013 and worked in Illandu-Narsamapet Area Committee from 2013 to 2015. During the period of 2015-2016, he worked as guard to Apachi Narayana alias Ramesh, member of Maoist Party Production Team (Weapon team) and was trained in weapons production. Later he was promoted as 'deputy commander' of Mahadevpur-Eturnagaram Area Committee and was allowed to carry SLR weapon.

Several posters extolling the Russian Revolution of 1917 have appeared in the name of CPI-Maoist along the Charla-Pusuguppa main road at Pujarigudem village in Charla Mandal of Bhadrachalam Agency in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. The posters, purportedly put up by the Maoists, contained slogans urging people to participate in the week-long centenary celebrations of the Russian Revolution from November 7-13 across the State, sources said.

Two powerful landmines placed under a culvert by the CPI-Maoist cadres, were unearthed by the Police near Abbaigudem village in Venkatapur mandal on the highway towards Bhadrachalam in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District. According to information, each landmine weighing 500 kilograms and some gelatine sticks were planted by the Maoists near Abbaigudem village near Morlonigudem Gram Panchayat. Police found electric wire of 2.5-kilometres length meant for detonating the landmines. Two days ago, the Maoists had left some pamphlets at the same place.

Six armed Naxalites of the CPI-ML New Democracy were arrested by the Police in Mahabubabad District. SP, N Koti Reddy said a SLR, a Springfield rifle, a, 8 MM rifle, a .303 single shot rifle, and one 9MM pistol were recovered along with 53 live rounds of ammunition. The arrested Naxalites were identified as Kothaguda 'dalam area commander' J Sammaiah alias Jampanna, Gangaram 'dalam area commander' S Papa Rao alias Pradeep, 'dalam member's' G Kranthi Kumar alias KK, B Vinod alias Samba Rao, N Ashok alias Veeraswamy, and M Karnakar.

The Palvancha sub-division Police arrested an underground cadre of the CPI-ML-New Democracy Chandranna faction, and seized a knife from his possession at Rajeev Nagar in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. The Police identified the arrested cadre as Muchhaka Aitha alias Srinu. He was allegedly involved in the murder of a farmer of Narsampet village in August this year and in an "exchange of fire" with the Police in September.

A CPI-Maoist 'Jan Militia commander', carrying a reward of INR 100,000, was arrested by Chhattisgarh Police from neighbouring Telangana. Acting on a specific input, the cadre Baman Kawasi alias Chaman (32), was arrested from Husnabad area in Khammam District of Telangana, Dantewada ASP, Gorakhnath Bahgel said. After receiving the information about the location of Kawasi, a native of Kuwakonda Police Station area (Dantewada), a local Police team was sent to the place and was he was arrested, he said. Kawasi was allegedly involved in the attack on police personnel in Etepal forests after the patrolling team was returning after dismantling a Maoist memorial in July this year. Besides, he was also allegedly involved in other incidents of planting IEDs to target troopers, firing on Police patrolling team, set ablaze machines and vehicles engaged in construction works, the ASP said.

The Charla Police have arrested three CPI-Maoist militia members and seized medicines allegedly meant to be delivered to the Maoists from Satyanarayanapuram under Charla Police Station in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Those arrested include Madakam Seethaiah (44), Karam Muthaiah (40) and Punem Ganapathi (30), of Kaliveru village in Charla mandal. A Police team arrested the trio during patrolling at Satyanarayanapuram in the mandal late on November 23 and seized medicines from their possession. The seized material included tablets and injections besides 20 saline bottles, all worth INR 5,000.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres killed a tribal man, branding him 'Police informer', at Peddamidisileru village in Charla mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The Police identified the deceased as Sodi Prasad (45), of Peddamidisileru, an interior village close to the State's border with Chhattisgarh. The Maoist left behind two handwritten letters - one in Telugu and the other in Hindi - containing stern warnings to 'Police informers'. In one of the letters, the Maoists claimed to have punished a person belonging to Charla for allegedly acting as a 'Police informer'. In a statement, SP, Ambar Kishor Jha refuted reports that Sodi Prasad was a 'Police informer'. The local Police, also, denied having any association with the deceased and attributed the murder to a financial dispute the latter reportedly had with some militia members over "exchange of demonetised currency." The incident came just a few days ahead of the CPI-Maoist's annual PLGA week to be observed by the banned organisation from December 2-8.

'District secretary' of CPI-ML-New Democracy's armed squad D. Sammaiah alias Gopi (49), was arrested by the Police in Mahabubabad District. SP, N. Koti Reddy said the arrested Naxal leader was underground for the past 30 years and belonged to Enchagudem in Kothaguda mandal. On credible information that Sammaiah was in Mahabubabad town to extort money from a contractor the Police laid a trap and arrested him. The Police seized one 8 mm rifle, 8 mm rifle magazine, 10 live rounds, one pouch and a kitbag. He was involved in a exchange of fire with the Police in 2004, in murder of two persons in 2012 in Gudur mandal, blasting of a belt shop and assault of a person in 2010 at Kothaguda mandal. The SP said the arrested Naxalite was extorting money from tendu leaf contractors, civil contractors and petty traders. He appealed to people to inform the Police about the movement of armed squads that were indulging in extortion and unlawful activities. He wanted the underground cadre to give up arms and join the mainstream.

The Police have arrested three Naxalites of the CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction, near Narashimhasagar project forest area during combing operations in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District. The arrested Naxalites have been identified as Dharmarapu Yakaiah alias Mohan, 'District Committee Member, DCM' of the group, Darra Ashok alias Srikanth, 'deputy commander', and Kaviri Narsinga Rao alias Dilip, 'district squad member'. Police recovered four SBBL rifles, 20 rounds of ammunition, one 8mm rifle and 122 rounds of ammunition, 82 rounds of SBBL ammunition, five empty magazines, six kit bags, seven cell phones, two power banks, two grenades and other articles such as literature, flags, cooking items and INR 6,500 in cash from their possession. On interrogation it was disclosed that on July 24, 2017, a new group called CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction was formed with 12 members under the leadership of Kura Rajanna and Bommani Narasimhulu alias Vishwanath alias Anand, Aler of Nalgonda District. "The entire members are indulging in extortions from business people. They had been involved in the land settlements, civil panchayats and also put pamphlets and created terror in the society," ASP, B.K. Rahul Hedge said. Their areas of operation are Bhupalpalli, Mahabubabad, Kothagudem and Khammam.

CPI-Maoist poster surfaced at Vijayapuri Colony of Venkatapuram mandal in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District, during the ongoing annual 'PLGA Week.' The annual 'PLGA Week' observed from December 2 to 8 in the honour of slain leaders of the CPI-Maoist's armed wing, the PLGA. The poster released by the Maoist party Charla-Sabari Area Committee appealed the public to organise programmes in all the villages commemorating the 'week'. The poster also called upon the public to join the Maoists in large numbers, to set up village protection committees, to punish 'informers' and 'Police agents', to fight for Jal, Jangal and Jameen. It also told the public in the village to wage war against Brahminical Hindu Fascism.

A pressure activated device suspected to have been planted by CPI-Maoist cadres as a booby trap at Vijayapuri Colony of Venkatapuram mandal in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District, was defused by the Police. Eturnagaram, ASP, Rahul Hegde said, the booby trap with small batteries had been placed under a poster by the CPI-Maoist. "They placed the device with intention to kill or harm policemen as they know that the police/CRPF personnel conduct combing operations in that area," the ASP said, adding that the CRPF personnel and DBS had defused the bomb. The Maoists have been putting up posters calling upon the people to make their ongoing 'PLGA Week' celebrations a success.

Bhadradri-Kothagudem 'district committee secretary' of the CPI-ML-New Democracy's Rayala Group, Punem Lingaiah alias Linganna (43), was arrested by the Police on charges of extortion in Khammam District. A pistol, four rounds of ammunition, INR 25,200 cash and a bike were seized from his possession, Police said. Lingaiah, who had been extorting money from traders and contractors along with other members of his underground squad for the past few years, was arrested by a Police team based on a tip-off near Raghunadha Palem, Khammam Police Commissioner Tafseer Iqbal said. Lingaiah, the 'squad commander', was allegedly involved in as many as 20 offences, including one murder case, reported under various Police Station limits in erstwhile undivided Khammam District, the Police Commissioner said.

Telangana Police arrested a 'leader' of the Chandranna faction of the CPI-ML-New Democracy, Enugula Chandra Reddy aka Sagar, in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The Police recovered a gun and bullets from Sagar. Sagar did post-graduation from the Kakatiya University and was a gold medalist in Geology. He actively worked for PDSU during his student life. It was learnt that Sagar was underground for the last 15 years.

Two imposters of CPI-Maoist were arrested from Mangi village of Tiryani Mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad District. The arrested CPI-Maoist imposters were identified as Shaik Razak Hussain (34), native of Janakapur in Asifabad; and Bavandlapalli Ravindra Prasad (34), a resident of Kaghaznagar town. They had demanded INR 100,000 for CPI-Maoist from Venkat Rao, a sub-contractor of L&T Construction, posing as CPI-Maoist cadres. They had threatened to kill him if he had exposed this information. They took away INR 6,000 from him. Both of them have confessed to be indulging in the offence, said Superintendent of Police Sunpreet Singh.

Nine cadres of the CPI-ML-Janashakti-Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction were killed in an encounter with Police in the Mellamadugu forest area under Tekulapally Mandal in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The deceased were identified as Etti Kumar alias Rakhi (35), Jakkati Praveen Kumar alias Azad (24), Nunavath Arjun alias Naveen (22), Boina Omprakash alias Ganesh (22), Easam Naresh alias Sudharshan (30), Turkuli Madhu (35), Gadudula Srinu (40), Bhattu Adinarayana (38) and Rachakonda Kiran alias Karthik. Police also recovered a SLR, three 8mm rifles, two guns, and some other materials. The dead body of Karthik, a native of Kambalapally village in Mahabubabad District, was recovered on December 16, along with one 8mm rifle and 50 rounds bullets from the encounter place. The Police received information that the battalion of the Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction was in the dense forest area of the Tekulapally Mandal and had launched the operation on Wednesday (December 13) night, which ended in the morning of December 14 at around 6:30 am.

Telangana Police found the dead body of a former CPI-Maoist cadre, Komalla Sheshagiri Rao alias Gopanna (45), near the railway tracks in Unikicherla area of Warangal District. The Police recovered a suicide note which quoted Rao as saying that some friends have deceived him in financial matters. Gopanna is from Velikatte village under Thorrur Mandal in Mahabubabad District, and had gone underground and worked in different capacities for CPI-Maoist before surrendering to Police in 2009.

Kura Rajanna, the leader of the CPI-ML-Janashakti-Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata, is now secretly making rare public appearances. The SIB and the Police of Bhadradri Kothagudem District have identified Rajanna as the leader of the newly-floated Naxal outfit, CPI-ML-Janashakti-Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata. According to the Police, Rajanna organised a plenary in Chevella Mandal in Ranga Reddy District in June this year with 60 Naxal sympathisers, mostly former CPI-ML-Janashakti cadres. After the meet, he started working on the new group. Police further said, around 20 Naxals of the group are on the prowl and eight of them died in exchange of fire in Bodu forest of Bhadradri Kothagudem on December 14. Bhadradri Kothagudem, SP, Ambar Kishore Jha, said, "Kura Rajanna is the man behind this new group. Rajanna was involved in 11 cases in Karimnagar and was acquitted in nine. There are more cases against him. The group acquired weapons like SLR and rifles from Madhya Pradesh. We will prepare a dossier and write to MHA seeking ban of this outlawed organization CPI (ML) too." Rajanna is believed to be the 'state secretary' of the group and is on the run.

CPI-Maoist 'Politburo member', Kobad Ghandy, was reportedly re-arrested by the Jharkhand SIB Police from Achampet town in Nagarkurnool District, where he had gone to attend court case. Ghandy, who had been released on bail from Visakhapatnam Central Prison in Andhra Pradesh on December 12, was arrested again with regard to cases pending trials in Jharkhand, sources informed. Jharkhand Police took the help of the Telangana SIB Police in making the arrest, while he was to be produced before Nampally Criminal Court, advocate K. Savitri said. However, citing paucity of time, the Jharkhand Police flew him to Ranchi without producing him at the court.

Top CPI-Maoist leader identified as Jinugu Narasimha Reddy aka Jampanna (57), along with his wife, Hinge Anitha aka Rajitha (37), another senior CPI-Maoist leader surrendered before the Telangana Police in Hyderabad, the State Capital. Jampanna was number 7 in hierarchy of the Maoist command and was also part of the Central Regional Bureau (CRB) of the CPI-Maoist. According to the report, Jampanna, 'central committee (CC) member' of CPI-Maoist, carrying a reward of INR 2.4 million on his head and his wife Rajitha, with INR 2 million reward approached the Police through a top TRS leader in Warangal (rural) District of Telangana. The TRS leader arranged the surrender after getting the approval from Telangana CM, K Chandrasekhar Rao. He hails from Cherlapalem village in Thorrur Block of Mahabubabad District and worked as a 'secretary' of the NTSZC of CPI-Maoist, before being elevated as 'CC member'. He is known as an expert in military operations. He led the Maoists in the 2008 Nayagarh armory loot (Odisha) and 2004 Koraput District armory attack (Odisha) that provided ammunition to the CPI-Maoist. He was appointed 'secretary' of AOBSZC and active in KKBN Divisional Committee of the CPI-Maoist in Odisha. Rajitha carried a reward of INR 500,000 on her head and was the 'Divisional Committee Member. DCM' of KKBN Divisional Committee of the CPI-Maoist in Odisha.