In a major breakthrough for Telangana’s anti-Naxal operations, top Maoist leader Thipparri Tirupati alias Devji surrendered to police on Sunday, accompanied by 16 associates. This event marks a significant blow to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), where Devji served as general secretary.
The surrender took place in the Asifabad forests of Adilabad district. Devji, a resident of Peddapalli district in Telangana, was one of the most wanted Maoist commanders with a Rs 25 lakh bounty on his head. He held a key position in the CPI (Maoist) central committee and had been leading the outfit since the death of Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju in a Chhattisgarh encounter last May.
Telangana DGP B. Shivdhar Reddy had recently appealed directly to Devji, urging him to lay down arms and return to the mainstream. The DGP assured rehabilitation under government schemes, echoing the police campaign ‘No More Struggle, Love Your Village.’ This persuasive effort appears to have paid off handsomely.
Sources indicate that the group deposited their weapons before authorities. While police have yet to issue an official confirmation, the surrendered Maoists are expected to be presented before the media on Monday. This development follows a surge in surrenders, with 576 Maoists giving up arms in Telangana throughout 2025.
Devji’s capitulation comes amid intensified operations against Maoists. Just last November, members of his security team were arrested in neighboring Andhra Pradesh districts shortly after encounters that eliminated top commanders like Madvi Hidma and explosives expert Meturi Joga Rao. These successes underscore the relentless pressure mounting on the insurgent group.
The surrender weakens the Maoist leadership structure across India, as Devji was among 17 Telangana natives holding critical roles in various party committees. Security forces view this as a pivotal moment in their decade-long battle to eradicate Left Wing Extremism from the region.
Reintegration programs will now focus on providing vocational training, housing, and financial aid to the surrendered individuals, aiming to prevent recidivism and promote lasting peace in affected areas. This event signals hope for further defections and a potential end to Maoist dominance in Telangana’s forested terrains.