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Key Highlights
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All three leaders were State Committee Members (SCMs) and had been underground for decades:
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Kunkati Venkataiah: 36 years
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Mogilicherla Venkatraju: 35 years
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Thodem Ganga: 21 years
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Each leader received a cash reward of ₹20 lakh and will avail of additional benefits under Telangana’s rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoist cadres.
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In 2025 alone, 412 Maoist cadres, including senior leaders, surrendered in Telangana
Hyderabad, 10 Oct 10( Shoukat-PMI): In a major development, three senior leaders of the banned CPI (Maoist) — Kunkati Venkataiah @ Vikas, Mogilicherla Venkatraju @ Chandu, and Thodem Ganga @ Sony — surrendered and rejoined the mainstream in the presence of B Shivadhar Reddy, Director General of Police, Telangana.
All three leaders held the rank of State Committee Members (SCMs) and had been underground for decades: Venkataiah for 36 years, Venkatraju for 35 years, and Ganga for 21 years.
1. Kunkati Venkataiah @ Vikas (52 years)
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Origin: Kutigal village, Maddur mandal, Siddipet district.
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Background: Born into a farming family, Venkataiah completed his schooling at Dhulmetta Government Hostel, Cherial mandal. He was exposed to revolutionary ideology through CPI (ML) People’s War Group (PWG) activities and joined the Cherial Dalam in May 1990.
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Rise in the Party:
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1991: Deputy Commander of Mahadevpur Dalam.
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1995–2002: Commander of Mahadevpur Area Committee and District Committee Member, Karimnagar.
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2003: District Committee Secretary, Karimnagar East Division.
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2005–2007: Secretariat Member, KKW Divisional Committee; later transferred to Chhattisgarh for North Telangana Special Zonal Committee.
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2015–2021: Secretary, South Bastar Divisional Committee, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC).
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Reason for Surrender: Health deterioration in May 2025 prompted him to leave the underground movement and rejoin society.
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Family: Married to Kodi Manjula @ Nirmala, who surrendered in November 2024.
2. Mogilicherla Venkatraju @ Chandu (45 years)
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Origin: Thatikayala village, Dharmasagar mandal, Hanumakonda district, Telangana.
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Background: Hailing from a modest family, Venkatraju joined CPI (ML) PWG in 1993 after exposure to Jana Natya Mandali (JNM) cultural activities. He married Thodem Ganga in 2019.
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Rise in the Party:
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1995–1999: Area Committee Member (ACM), Narsampet Dalam.
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1999–2003: Area Committee Secretary, Palakurthy Dalam.
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2001–2009: In charge of Chetna Natya Manch (CNM) across multiple regions; promoted to Regional Committee Member in 2009.
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2015–2024: State Committee Member (SCM), Dandakaranya Cultural Sub-Committee, East Bastar Division, and CNM In-Charge.
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Reason for Surrender: Health concerns, deteriorating eyesight, and ideological differences within the party leadership prompted him to leave CPI (Maoist) along with his wife.
3. Thodem Ganga @ Sony (42 years)
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Origin: Dharampeta village, Kistaram PS limits, Sukuma district, Chhattisgarh.
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Background: From the Dorla Koya tribal community, joined Dandakaranya Adivasi Mahila Sangam (DKAMS), a CPI (Maoist) front organization, in 2002. Became an underground cadre in 2004.
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Rise in the Party:
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2004–2006: Vice President, Janathana Sarkar Committee, Kistaram Area.
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2007–2012: President of Janathana Sarkar Committee and Area Committee Member.
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2014–2021: President of Janathana Sarkar, South Bastar DVC; Secretariat Member from 2021.
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2024: Co-opted into the State Committee Members’ panel.
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Reason for Surrender: Health concerns and the desire to lead a normal life with family prompted her decision.
Rehabilitation and Rewards
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Each leader received a cash reward of ₹20 lakh through demand drafts.
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They will also receive further benefits under the Telangana Government’s rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoist cadres.
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Telangana Police reaffirmed its commitment to ensure timely and full benefits for all surrendered cadres, enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity.
Significance of Surrender
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The return of these senior leaders is considered a major moral victory for the Telangana Police’s comprehensive approach toward underground Maoists.
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In 2025 alone, 412 Maoist cadres — including 1 Central Committee Member, 4 State Committee Members, 2 Divisional Committee Secretaries, 8 Divisional Committee Members, and 35 Area Committee Members — have surrendered.
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Out of 12 CPI (Maoist) Central Committee Members, 8 are natives of Telangana, highlighting the state’s role in influencing underground cadres.
Message from DGP Telangana
The DGP Telangana appealed to the remaining underground Maoists:
“Lay down arms and leave the underground – Join the mainstream of public life. Come back to your village! The Telangana Government will provide all rehabilitation benefits to help you lead an independent and dignified life.”
The surrender of these leaders underscores the effectiveness of the Telangana Police’s holistic and people-centric strategy in persuading underground cadres to embrace peace.(pressmediaofindia.com)
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