India: A Vanishing Red In Telangana – Analysis

By Deepak Kumar Nayak

On September 5, 2024, six Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were killed in an encounter during a combing operation by the Security Forces (SFs) in the forest area near Raghunathpalem village in the KarakagudemMandal(an administrative subdivision) of the Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana. Two commandos of theGreyhounds, the elite anti-Maoist force of the Telangana Police, also sustained injuries in the encounter. According to the Police, the dead included Lachanna, a ‘divisional committee member (DCM)’ and ‘commander’ of a Maoist squad with a reward of INR 1 million on his head. The other dead included Tulasi, Sukhram, Ramu, Durgesh and Kosi – all of them belonging to the same Maoist squad.

On August 21, 2024, Maoists allegedly killed Pallepati RadhaakaNeelsoakaBanti Radha, a female cadre who worked as a ‘protection team commander’ in the Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) area, in the forests near Chennapuram in the CherlaMandalof Bhadradri Kothagudem District. In a letter purportedly written by the Maoists that was found on the woman's body, she was accused of being a ‘Police informer’. Bhadradri Kothagudem Superintendent of Police (SP) B. Rohit Raju stated Radha’s killing laid bare the atrocities being committed by leaders of the banned organisation against cadres who wanted to surrender.

On July 25, 2024, a CPI-Maoist cadre, Nallamuri AshokakaVijender (34), was killed in an exchange of fire between the Police and the Maoists in the forests near Damaratogu-Rangapuram in the GundalaMandalof the Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The SFs had launched combing operations following a tip-off that Maoists Bhadru and Lachanna and 15 others from the Maoist ‘Kothagudem area committee’ were moving about in the Damaratogu, Gundala, Karakagudem and Tadwai Forest areas, with weapons, threatening businessmen, farmers, and contractors and demanding money for the Maoist party. During the subsequent search, the body of a Maoist in olive green uniform, some arms, ammunition, revolutionary literature, and other items were recovered from the encounter site.

According to partial data collated by theSouth Asia Terrorism Portal(SATP), at least eight Maoists have been killed in Bhadradri Kothagudem District in the current year, thus far (data till September 8, 2024). During the corresponding period of 2023, two Maoists were killed in the district. The number remained the same for the whole of 2023. Just one Maoist was killed in the district in 2022. Since June 2, 2014, when Telangana was created and the district came into being, to September 6, 2024, at least 25 Maoists have been killed in the district.

Significantly, in the fight against the extremists since 2014, the SFs have emphatically dominated the ground and have not lost a single trooper in the district.

However, civilian fatalities, a key index of security, have also been contained in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District. The district recorded a maximum of two fatalities in 2018, while a low of single fatalities was recorded in 2017, 2020, and 2022. 2023, and 2024 have not recorded any fatalities in this category. The last civilian killing was reported on August 30, 2022, when Maoists hacked the deputySarpanch(head of thePanchayat, village level local self-Government institution) of KurnapallyPanchayatto death, accusing him being a ‘Police informer’. Bhadradri Kothagudem has recorded a total of five civilian fatalities since June 2, 2014.

At least 24 Maoists/associates have been arrested during search operations and combing raids in the district since the beginning of the current year (all data till September 8, 2024). During the corresponding period of 2023, there were 42 such arrests, and another seven arrests during the remaining days of 2023. 20 Maoists were arrested in 2022. Between June 2, 2014, when Telangana was created and the district came into being, and September 8, 2024, at least 256 Maoists have been arrested in the district.

In addition, 17 Maoists have surrendered in the district in the current year (data till September 8, 2024). Two surrenders took place in the corresponding period of 2023, and another one during the remaining days of 2023. 20 surrenders took place in 2022. Since 2014, at least 240 Maoists have surrendered in the district.

The Maoists are facing intense combing operations in neighbouring Chhattisgarh under the Centre’s ‘Operation Kagar’, and have taken to sneaking across the Telangana border for shelter. Bhadradri Kothagudem occupies an area of 7,483 square kilometres, with 4,286.98 square kilometres, about 57.29 per cent of its total geographical area, under forest cover, spreading over Bhadrachalam, Manuguru, Bergampahad, Kothagudem, and Yellandu. The physiography of the district comprises plains, hills, and mountains, which make the district a particularly safe haven for the rebels.

Meanwhile, according to a September 7, 2024, media report, the state’s Intelligence Security Wing (ISW) is likely to review security arrangements for Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Tummala Nageswara Rao, following a warning letter issued by the Maoists in the wake of September 5, 2024, encounter in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District. According to Intelligence inputs, Jagan, Maoist ‘secretary’ for the ‘BK-ASR (Bhadradri Kothagudem-Alluri Sitharamaraju) division’, issued a letter warning the Congress leaders and Ministers from the district, following the encounter in which six Maoists were killed.

While the Maoists have certainly long been on the defensive in the district, their efforts to restore capacities and operations persist.

On June 10, 2024, 70 booby traps were unearthed and 4,396 iron spikes were recovered from the booby traps, which had been laid by the CPI-Maoist, to target SFs in the Pusuguppa Forest area in the CherlaMandalof Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Innocent Adivasi people living in the border areas live in perpetual distress due to Maoist atrocities, as well as the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and booby traps planted by Maoists in areas where tribals and their animals roam. Many lives have been lost and seriously injuries inflicted in recent times, as a result. SP Raju divulged that the Tribal people living in the border areas have been advised extreme caution while moving in these areas.

On February 16, 2024, Police arrested five cadres of the Pedda Chandranna faction of the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist-New Democracy (CPI-ML-New Democracy-Pedda Chandranna) from Bhadradri Kothagudem District, who confessed to the Police that they had formed aDalam(armed squad) in September 2023, to wage an armed struggle against the government and to carry out a campaign against its failures. Police also seized a pistol, 16 live .303 rounds, five gelatin sticks, 10 detonators, kit bags, and revolutionary literature. The cadres were identified as the CPI-ML-New Democracy-Pedda Chandranna faction’s ‘state committee secretary’ Kurasam VanjaiahakaAshok, its member Danasari SammaiahakaGopi, armed ‘commanders’ S. MuthaiahakaPullanna, Shaik Madar Saheb, all of Mahabubabad District; and Kalakonda Suresh of Khammam District.

Significantly, SP Raju disclosed, search operations had been scheduled to arrest the escapedNaxals, Guruguntla Devi ReddyakaYellaiah, Nayini KomaraiahakaKondanna, Danasari Suresh, Kranthi, Abbarla Rajaiah, and UpenderakaUmar. The SP also appealed to the Maoiststo surrender to the Police along with arms, join mainstream life, and continue their struggle in a democratic manner. He also asked the public to inform the Police if they found anyNaxalsmoving with arms in their areas.

At least seven incidents of recovery of arms have been recorded in the district in the current year, thus far (data till September 8, 2024). A total of 66 such recoveries have been registered in the district since June 2, 2014.

The Maoists are taking a manifest beating in Bhadradri Kothagudem as well as across Telangana state. Their residual capacities in the district are being progressively eroded by SF operations, and the Maoists are under increasing threat in what were their erstwhile areas of dominance. With determined SF consolidation and declining Maoists appeal among the locals, the possibilities of an enduring peace in the district is becoming very real.

• Deepak Kumar Nayak
  Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management