End of the Telangana Era in Maoism: 10 Top Commanders Killed in a Year, Leadership to Exit After 40 Years

Raipur: The Maoist movement in India is witnessing a historic upheaval. The surrender of the Telangana cadre’s unrecognized general secretary Thippiri Tirupati, alias Devji, and Odisha in-charge Mallaji Reddy, alias Sangram, has left the organization leaderless. Under the pressure of Mission 2026, the top command of the Maoists is now likely to shift from Telangana to Mishir Besra in Jharkhand-Bihar.

Telangana Cadre Loses Four-Decade Dominance

For the first time, the Maoist leadership could move outside Telangana. The surrender of Devji and Sangram has created a leadership vacuum within the organization. Security agencies confirm that both top Maoists are in Telangana police custody. Devji’s exit ends the four-decade-long dominance of the Telangana cadre, which had directed Maoist activities nationwide, marking a major setback for the insurgent group.

Devji was the head of the violent wing of the Maoist organization and informally acted as the general secretary of the CPI (Maoist). His surrender effectively ends the Telangana cadre’s supremacy in shaping violent operations for the past forty years.

Devastating Losses for the Telangana Cadre in 2025

The year 2025 proved disastrous for the Telangana cadre. Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s commitment to eliminate the Maoist movement by March 2026, security operations intensified across Chhattisgarh and other affected states. As a result, 10 top Maoist leaders were killed last year, seven of whom belonged to the Telangana cadre. Notable casualties included Nambala Keshav Rao (Baswa Raju), Jayaram (Chalpati), Narasimha Chalam (Sudhakar), Uday (Gajarla Ravi), Manoj (Modem Balakrishnan), Gudsa Usendi (Katta Ramchandra Reddy), and Kosa (Kadri Satyanarayana Reddy).

“Left with dwindling trust within, the only safe path for those wandering is surrender. Naxalism is in its final phase, and our strategy has changed accordingly,” said Vijay Sharma, Home Minister of Chhattisgarh.

15 Members in the Surrender Process

Following the surrender of Devji and Sangram, the BBM Division of the Maoist CPI active along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border has indicated a collective surrender. According to a letter sent to Home Minister Vijay Sharma, the division members cited current political and social conditions as their reason to abandon armed struggle. Currently, 15 members, including 14 from Chhattisgarh and one from Telangana, are in the process of surrendering.

Key Takeaways on the Maoist Organization

1. For four decades, the Telangana cadre had remote control over Maoist activities; Devji’s surrender has ended this dominance.
2. Last year, 10 top Maoist leaders were killed, seven from Telangana, creating a leadership vacuum.
3. Intelligence reports suggest that Mishir Besra from Jharkhand could now take charge of the organization, signaling a major shift.
4. Fifteen Maoists from the BBM Division along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border have submitted letters to surrender.
5. Amidst the unrest, an STF jawan, Neelkanth Singh, was injured by a pressure IED in Bijapur and was referred to Raipur for treatment.

This marks a decisive turning point in the four-decade-long influence of the Telangana cadre over Maoist operations, signaling a new era in the organization’s leadership.