Top Maoist commander Barsa Deva surrenders before Telangana DGP with 15 cadres
Deva, who was carrying a bounty of up to ₹1 crore, had served as the chief of the Maoist party’s armed wing, the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). He was wanted in multiple cases related to attacks and ambushes on security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region.
A native of Puvarti village in the core red-zone of Sukma, Deva joined the Maoist movement in the early 2000s and steadily rose through the ranks. Following the encounter involving senior Maoist leader Hidma, Deva emerged as one of the most influential commanders within the banned outfit.
Police sources said Deva was responsible for overseeing the Maoist party’s armed operations and logistics, including weapons procurement and supply. Investigators have also noted that Hidma and Deva hailed from the same village in Chhattisgarh, underlining his long-standing presence in Maoist strongholds.
Deva was among the last remaining top Maoist commanders active in the Bastar region, an area that has seen intensified counter-insurgency operations in recent years. His surrender is being viewed as a significant development in the evolving Left-Wing Extremism landscape in central India.
The Director General of Police, Shivdhar Reddy, is expected to address the media later on Saturday and provide further details on the surrender and its implications.
