By Deepak Kumar Nayak
On August 14, 2025, as many as six Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, including three each from Bijapur and Sukma Districts of Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar region surrendered before Superintendent of Police (SP) B. Rohith Raju in Kothagudem town in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana. The surrendered Maoists include Madakam Lakme, ‘Platoon Party Committee Member (PPCM)’; Sodi Bheme and Sodi Raje, party members, 4th Platoon, Konta Area Committee; Madivi Sona, ‘Militia Deputy Commander’; and Madivi Bheem and Madakam Bheemaiah, ‘Militia’ Members of Palagudem Revolutionary People’s Committee (RPC). Police claimed that the Maoists have parted ways with the banned organisation and returned to the mainstream to lead a peaceful life by availing of the financial support under the Telangana Government’s rehabilitation policy.
On July 12, 2025, six CPI-Maoist cadres and ‘militia’ (people’s army of the Maoists) members from Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar region, including Punem Lalu alias Rakesh (35), ‘Company Party Committee Member (CYPCM)’, People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion, Artillery Platoon, HQ Company, Bijapur, surrendered before SP B. Rohith Raju in Kothagudem town in Bhadradri Kothagudem District.
On June 19, 2025, 12 CPI-Maoist cadres of different ranks from Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region surrendered before the SP and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials in Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Two ‘divisional committee members (DCMs)’, Madakam Rama alias Raghu and Madakam Bheema alias Srikanth, four ‘area committee members (ACMs)’, two party members, two ‘militia’ (people’s army of the Maoists) members, and two RPC members were among those who surrendered to Police, SP B Rohith Raju said.
These incidents of surrender indicate a significant weakening of the Maoists in the district, with many Maoists, particularly from neighbouring Chhattisgarh, returning to the mainstream, disillusioned with the movement and encouraged by the Telangana Government’s rehabilitation programmes.
According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 301 Naxalites have surrendered in Bhadradri Kothagudem District in the current year thus far (data till August 24, 2025). During the corresponding period of 2024, 16 Naxalites had surrendered in the District. Another nine surrendered in the remaining part of the year, taking the total number of surrendered Naxalites to 25 through 2024. There was, thus, an overwhelming surge of more than 18 times in the number of surrenders in the comparative time frame. From June 2, 2014, when Telangana was created and the district came into being, to August 24, 2025, at least 549 Naxalites have surrendered in Bhadradri Kothagudem.
The 301 Maoists of various ranks who surrendered before the District Police this year included at least four ‘divisional committee members (DVCM)’/’CYPCMs’, 19 ‘area committee members (ACM/PPCMs)’, one ‘Militia Deputy Commander’, 37 ‘party members (PMs)’, 107 ‘militia’ members, 35 ‘RPC’ members, 47 ‘Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan and Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangathan (DAKMS/KAMS)’ members, 30 ‘Chetna Natya Manch (CNM)’ members and 21 ‘Guerrilla Resistance Division (GRD)’ members.
Maoists from Chhattisgarh are surrendering in Bhadradri Kothagudem primarily due to intensified anti-Maoist operations in their home region, coupled with the attractive rehabilitation and financial incentives of Operation Cheyutha provided by the Telangana Government to surrendered cadres and ‘militia’ members. The Telangana Government’s Operation Cheyutha is a rehabilitation programme for Maoists and Naxalites, providing financial incentives, vocational training, and a rehabilitation package that includes an immediate cash grant and a fixed deposit for a maximum of three years, all managed under the larger Central Government’s Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme. The funding follows a 60 per cent Central and 40 per cent State sharing pattern, subject to the SRE Scheme’s guidelines and limits. The rehabilitation programme offers a one-time interim relief of INR 25,000 to each surrendered Maoist and a monthly stipend of INR 2,000 paid for a maximum of 36 months. A fixed deposit of INR 150,000 is kept in a bank account in the form of cheques after receiving the Aadhaar cards and bank accounts of the surrendered Maoist. The INR 150,000 fixed deposit can be withdrawn after three years, provided the surrendered cadre maintains good behaviour, certified by designated authorities. This fixed deposit can also be used as collateral or margin money for loans from banks to start self-employment ventures. Training in a trade or vocation of the surrenderer’s choice is provided. However, the monthly stipend is to be discontinued and the INR 150,000 fixed deposit forfeited, if the surrendered cadre secures a government job or engages in gainful self-employment. The consistent attractive rehabilitation and financial incentives are significant driving forces behind these surrenders from the Dandakaranya Forest region.
According to an April 21, 2025, report, state intelligence authorities, who are aware of the new surrender policy in the neighbouring state, noted that the surrender preference in Telangana was also the result of the consistent Maoist surrender policy of the State.
An unnamed senior Police officer privy to the developments thus noted, “In 2024, 87 Maoist cadres had surrendered in Telangana, and most of them were from here. Things changed this year. Surrendered Maoists told us that they feared for their lives in Chhattisgarh. They prefer Telangana, where safety is ensured. Chhattisgarh now came up with the new surrender policy because they have the most severe Maoist problem among all the states, and they want to address it. It is good if they get a good response.”
According to officers monitoring the Maoists’ surrenders, the Maoists from Chhattisgarh have good contacts with their fellow tribals settled in Telangana, and they approach the Police through such mediators. Most of them are from Bijapur and Sukma and have relatives or friends in Bhadradri-Kothagudem and Mulugu. They are familiar with Telangana’s towns, such as Bhadrachalam, Cherla, and Kothagudem, and feel at home in these areas.
Further, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Multi-Zone I, S. Chandrasekhar Reddy, observed, “We treat the surrendered Maoists respectfully and provide proper rehabilitation. That’s one reason for the increase in surrenders.”
SP Rohith Raju also noted, with increasing pressure from the Chhattisgarh Police, Maoists were moving towards villages on the borders of Telangana. Stating that the lower-rank Maoist cadres, unwilling to comply with orders from top leadership, are increasingly choosing to return to their native villages and live peacefully with their families.
Raju stated, “Many cadres have fallen sick and were unable to walk due to lack of food, support, and cooperation from local adivasi communities living in nearby forest areas. It is a positive development that more than 90 per cent of the cadres, who were poor tribals, are now considering their families’ welfare and mainstream development.”
While appealing to underground Maoist cadres to surrender and join the mainstream to live peacefully with their families, SP Raju gave the assurance that the district Police would provide surrendering Maoists with livelihood support and rehabilitation.
The District Police added, “We appeal to the party members who want to surrender and lead a normal life to contact their nearest police station or district higher officials, either through their family members or in person. The district police administration is always working hard to ensure to provide all kinds of benefits on behalf of the government for the livelihood and rehabilitation of the surrendered party members.”
Bhadradri Kothagudem, a predominantly tribal district, is the easternmost district of Telangana, spread over a geographical area of 7,483 square kilometres, of which around 4,286.98 square kilometres (more than 57.29 per cent of its total area) is under thick forest cover. The district shares boundaries with the Bijapur and Sukma Districts of Chhattisgarh State in the North and the North East; East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh in the East; Khammam District (Telangana) and West Godavari District (Andhra Pradesh) in the South and the South East; Mahabubabad District (Telangana) in the West; and Jayashankar Bhupalapally District (Telangana) in the North West. Sharing its borders with the worst Naxalite [Left Wing Extremism, LWE]-affected State, Chhattisgarh, to the north and northeast, and other LWE-affected Districts of Telangana to the east, west and south, made Bhadradri Kothagudem an important insurgents’ safe haven.
Maoist activity in Bhadradri Kothagudem is primarily characterised by the presence of the CPI-Maoist, whose ‘Bhadradri Kothagudem-Alluri Sitarama Raju (BK-ASR) division’ committee is active in the Cherla Mandal and the border region with Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar. This specific area within the district is identified as a focal point for Maoist activities. The region’s proximity to Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar, a known Maoist hotbed, increases security concerns. Recent activities include the distribution of pamphlets against the government’s Operation Kagar (also called Operation BlackForest), and on the observance of the Maoists’ ‘martyrs’ week’ from July 28 to August 3, 2025, a period during which Maoist activities often intensify. On July 27, 2025, Maoist posters were found pasted in the name of the CPI-Maoists’ ‘BK-ASR division’ committee in R. Kothagudem and Danavaipeta in Cherla Mandal in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Banners and pamphlets were seen calling for Maoist ‘martyrs’ week’ gatherings. Posters put up called for the construction of stupas for Maoist ‘martyrs’.
Earlier, on June 18, 2025, during a community outreach initiative, to ensure that the tribals do not directly or indirectly support or help the rebels in their subversive activities, the Bhadradri Kothagudem District Police conducted a public awareness programme at Nethakani hamlet in the Gundala Mandal, urging Adivasi residents not to support Maoist activities. Additional SP, Operations, G. Narender, who interacted with the villagers, cautioned them against cooperating with the Maoists, asserting that the rebels were obstructing development through outdated ideologies. He appealed to the community to support government efforts aimed at their welfare and progress. The tribal residents were advised to prioritise education, stressing that it was the only way for their children to achieve success and high positions in society. He also warned that any association with anti-social elements or participation in illegal activities could result in legal consequences, including imprisonment.
The Telangana Police and government officials have propagated the slogan ‘Poru Vaddu – Ooru Muddu’ [No more conflict, embrace the village (community/development)] to encourage CPI-Maoist cadres to surrender and join the mainstream, to promote peace and development instead of violence. The slogan encourages tribals to choose development through democratic government, over the violence promoted by the Maoists which, they argue, has long prevented progress in their areas.
On April 5, 2025, during the surrender of 86 Maoists, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Multi-Zone I, S Chandrasekhar Reddy stated that the cadres surrendered after they became aware of the welfare measures being implemented by the state police department for the surrendered Maoists, as well as the development of welfare schemes for Adivasi people under Operation Cheyutha. He thus disclosed,
They were tired of their party leaders’ harassment and mounting pressure to extort money from villagers. The surrendered Maoists have expressed their desire to join the mainstream society. There were still 95 Maoists from Telangana working in various cadres. We will hold peace talks with them as per the directions from the state and central governments.
Bhadradri Kothagudem has recorded 36 fatalities (five civilians and 31 LWEs) in LWE-linked violence since June 2, 2014, when the district came into being. Bhadradri Kothagudem is the worst LWE-affected District in terms of overall fatalities in Telangana, followed by Mulugu (23 fatalities), Khammam (five fatalities), Warangal (three), Komaram Bheem Asifabad (two), and Adilabad, Hyderabad, and Nalgonda (one fatality each). At its peak, the district recorded 12 fatalities (one civilian and 11 LWEs) in 2017. In the current year, significantly, no fatalities have been recorded, so far (data till August 24, 2025).
Moreover, at least six Naxalites/associates have been arrested during search operations and combing raids in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District since the beginning of the current year (all data till August 24, 2025), in addition to 35 arrested through 2024. From June 2, 2014, when the district came into being, to August 24, 2025, at least 273 Naxalites/associates have been arrested in the district.
Maoists in Bhadradri Kothagudem are being encouraged to return home under Operation Cheyutha, the States’ surrender and rehabilitation initiative by the Bhadradri Kothagudem District Police and the CRPF. To end Maoist violence in Bhadradri Kothagudem in particular and the State as a whole, tenacious SF pressure and vital developmental initiatives – particularly in infrastructure and communications – remain necessary.
- Deepak Kumar Nayak
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
