Top PLGA commander, TSC member among 20 Maoists who surrender in Telangana
HYDERABAD: Twenty underground cadres of the CPI (Maoist), including PLGA battalion commander Badse Sukka alias Deva and Telangana State Committee member Kankanala Raji Reddy alias Venkatesh, surrendered before the Telangana Police on January 3, 2026, along with 48 firearms and 2,206 rounds of ammunition, marking one of the largest single surrenders in recent years.
Surrenders weaken PLGA, Telangana committee
Police said the surrender has effectively dismantled the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion and pushed the Telangana State Committee to the brink, with only one state committee member now remaining active. The cadres also handed over cash of ₹20.30 lakh.
Among the weapons surrendered were two light machine guns, a US made Colt rifle, an Israel-made Tavor rifle, eight AK-47s, ten INSAS rifles, eight self-loading rifles, four barrel grenade launchers, 11 single-shot weapons and two grenades.
Key leaders among those who surrendered
Badse Sukka alias Deva, 49, a native of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh, was the commander of the PLGA battalion and carried a cumulative reward of ₹75 lakh announced by Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and the National Investigation Agency. Police said he had taken over as battalion commander after the promotion of Madavi Hidma in November 2023.
Kankanala Raji Reddy alias Venkatesh, 50, a native of Peddapalli district in Telangana, was a state committee member and secretary of the Jannaram,Mulugu,Mancherial,Warangal,Peddapalli division. Police said his surrender has left the Telangana State Committee with only one surviving member.
Rehabilitation benefits announced
As per the Telangana government’s rehabilitation policy, surrendered cadres are eligible for financial assistance ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh, depending on rank, with additional incentives for surrender of weapons as per Union home ministry guidelines. Police said the total eligible assistance for the 20 cadres works out to ₹1.81 crore, to be disbursed after documentation and opening of bank accounts. An interim relief of ₹25,000 each has already been paid.
Police cite sustained pressure, appeal by CM
Police attributed the surrenders to sustained security operations, weakening of logistical networks, internal rifts and ideological disillusionment within the CPI (Maoist). They also cited the appeal made by Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on October 21, 2025, urging armed cadres to lay down weapons and return to the mainstream.
The director general of police, Telangana, commended the Special Intelligence Branch for its coordinated efforts, stating that the surrender significantly weakens the operational capability of the Maoist organisation in the region. The police reiterated their appeal to remaining underground cadres, particularly those native to Telangana, to surrender and avail themselves of the state’s rehabilitation and reintegration programme.
