Significant Surrender of Maoist Cadres in Telangana Marks Shift in Dynamics

In a remarkable development, 41 members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) surrendered to the Telangana Police, including senior leaders and committee members. This mass surrender signifies a notable decline in the organization's strength and morale, attributed to internal disarray and external pressures. The surrendered cadres handed over a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by the group. With the Union government's commitment to eradicate Maoism by 2026, this event highlights the shifting dynamics in the region. Read on to explore the implications of this significant surrender and the broader context of the fight against extremism in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 20, 2025, 11:46 IST

Major Surrender of Maoist Members

On Friday, a total of 41 individuals affiliated with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) voluntarily surrendered to the Telangana Police, as reported by a local news source.

This group included six high-ranking leaders and four members of the state committee, according to Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy.

Among those who surrendered was Erragolla Ravi, also known as Santhosh, a 40-year-old from Arepally in Kamareddy. He had been a state committee member and divisional committee secretary, remaining underground for 24 years.

Another notable surrender was Kanikarapu Prabhanjan, 33, from Jannaram in Mancherial, who served as a platoon committee member.

Several Maoist operatives from Chhattisgarh also chose to surrender alongside their weapons, responding to a call from the Telangana government made earlier in October.

The surrendered individuals handed over a total of 24 firearms, which included one INSAS LMG, three AK-47 rifles, and five SLR rifles, along with 733 rounds of ammunition of various calibers.

This mass surrender is seen as a significant decline in the organizational strength, morale, and leadership credibility of the banned group, according to the police chief.

Shivadhar Reddy noted that the Communist Party of India (Maoist) is currently facing internal disarray, as the leadership has been deploying members to unfamiliar and distant regions without their consent.

Many members have been sent to areas where they lack essential geographical knowledge and local support, leading to severe mobility issues and logistical challenges, including shortages of basic necessities.

These adverse conditions have resulted in increased frustration among the cadres, prompting many to disengage from the CPI (Maoist) and reintegrate into society.

In addition, ongoing pressure from security forces, coupled with a lack of cooperation and weakened logistical networks, has further restricted their operational capabilities.

Internal conflicts, factionalism, and leadership disputes within the CPI (Maoist) have also contributed to the recent surrenders.

The surrendered Maoists collectively carried a reward of Rs 1.4 crore, which will be distributed to them under the state and central relief and rehabilitation policies.

Each individual has also received an interim relief of Rs 25,000, with additional benefits to be provided according to the state’s rehabilitation and reintegration policy.

In 2025, a total of 509 members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), including two central committee members and 11 state committee members, surrendered to the Telangana Police.

The Union government has committed to eradicating Maoism by March 31, 2026.

In a recent statement, the Union home ministry indicated that the number of districts affected by Left-wing extremism has decreased from 18 to 11 since March.

This year, the number of districts classified as “most affected” has also dropped from six to three, specifically in Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh.

During a parliamentary session, the Union government reported that 335 Left-wing extremists were killed, while 2,167 others surrendered in 2025.

Additionally, 942 Left-wing extremists were apprehended this year, with a total of 1,841 killed and over 16,000 arrested since 2014.

As part of the Centre’s anti-offensive this year, key Maoist leaders have been eliminated, while others have surrendered.

A report highlighted that in the Andhra Pradesh village nearest to where a prominent Maoist leader was killed, residents reported not hearing any gunfire.

Further investigations have revealed that many individuals declared as reward-carrying Maoists by the police were, according to their families, civilians.