Hyderabad, February 24 Top Maoist commander and key strategist of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit, Thippiri Tirupati, also known as Devuji, surrendered to the Telangana police on Tuesday after spending over four decades underground, officials said.
Devuji, a Central Committee member of the proscribed organisation and politburo member of the Maoist party, formally surrendered alongside fellow Central Committee member Malla Raji Reddy in the presence of Telangana DGP B Shivadhar Reddy.
Two other ultras, Bade Chokka Rao alias Jagan and Nune Narasimha Reddy alias Ganganna, also laid down their arms, the DGP said.
The DGP added that Devuji was expected to be elected Secretary of the CPI (Maoist) in a Politburo Central Committee meeting, which never took place.
Responding to a query, Devuji said he surrendered due to health issues and vowed to continue his political career within the “legal framework.
“Due to health reasons, I have decided to give up my underground life and join the mainstream. I will continue to work on people’s problems within the legal framework, guided by the philosophy I believe in,” he said.
Devuji is a native of Korutla town in Jagtial district, Telangana. His father, Venkata Narsaiah, was a farmer. He joined CPI (ML) People’s War in January 1982 and primarily operated in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
After completing his early education in private and government schools, he moved to Korutla for intermediate studies, where he was drawn into radical activism and joined the Radical Students' Union (RSU). He was influenced by the Jagtial Jaitra Yatra and various grassroots agitations led by the CPI (ML) People’s War Group.
Devuji was elevated to Central Committee member in 2001 and made in charge of the Central Military Commission in 2017, police said.
Malla Raji Reddy, 76, alias Sangram, is a native of Manthani mandal in Peddapally district, Telangana. He completed his intermediate studies in 1971 and joined the RSU in 1974.
The decision of the four senior leaders to rejoin the mainstream follows Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s appeal on October 21, 2025, urging CPI (Maoist) cadres to renounce violence, return to mainstream society, and actively participate in state development, a police release said.
The release cited ideological divergence, internal rifts, and growing disillusionment—arising from the gap between doctrinal rhetoric and ground realities—as factors eroding organisational cohesion.
The return of these senior Maoist leaders is seen as a moral victory for Telangana Police and the Union government’s holistic approach to handling CPI (Maoist) cadres, the release added.
“The decision of Devuji and three others reflects growing ideological differences and internal conflicts within CPI (Maoist) leadership and committees,” the police said.
The DGP highlighted the state’s ‘Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme,’ launched in 1993, as a time-tested policy. Since its inception, 5,865 Maoists have surrendered in Telangana.
In 2025 alone, 544 underground cadres, including four Central Committee members, have renounced armed struggle and returned to civilian life.
All rehabilitated cadres have received land, cash, and educational support, the DGP said. Criminal cases against surrendered Maoists will be handled sympathetically.
Asked whether the Maoist movement has ended, Raji Reddy claimed Maoism would continue to grow worldwide.
He said he and other former Maoists would work on people’s struggles within legal limits.
On addressing remaining Maoist cadres, Raji Reddy said discussions with the government are ongoing before issuing any message.
