16 Maoists held in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district
Telangana: Maoist activity has resurfaced in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district after a long gap, with police detaining 16 suspected Maoists during searches on Tuesday.
Based on credible intelligence, police teams led by Asifabad Assistant Superintendent of Police Chittaranjan conducted checks at Pedalab village in Sirpur (U) mandal. During the operation, police found the group hiding in a thatched house and took them into custody.
Accused shifted to Hyderabad
Preliminary inquiry indicated that all 16 detainees are residents of Chhattisgarh. They were later shifted to Hyderabad for further questioning. The police department has not issued any official statement on the operation so far.
Sources said firearms, including an AK-47, and other weapons were seized from the group. There were also unconfirmed reports that Telangana Maoist Party secretary Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar was among those detained. Police, however, have not confirmed this.
Of the 16 detained, nine are women. Sources said the group was linked to Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Telangana state committees of the banned outfit and had entered Asifabad district a few days ago.
34 Maoists surrender in Bijapur
In a separate development, 34 Maoists surrendered before Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar in Bijapur district on Tuesday.
Police said the surrendered cadres carried a combined reward of ₹84 lakh. The group included leaders and members from the Telangana State Committee, Andhra-Odisha Border division committee, South Sub-Zonal Bureau, Keralapal area committee, PLGA company, RPC commanders and platoon members.
Seven women were among those who surrendered, police added.
