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Top Maoist Leader Devuji Surrenders With 16 Cadre in Major Blow to Naxals

Senior Maoist leader Thippiri Tirupathi, alias Devuji, has surrendered to the Telangana State Intelligence Bureau along with 16 other cadre members, including a Central Committee member. This surrender is a significant achievement under the Centre's intensified anti-Naxal campaign, Operation Kagar-2, which has a declared deadline to eradicate Naxalism by March 31. The move follows sustained pressure from security forces, including a recent encounter in Odisha that killed two Maoists. Meanwhile, a previously surrendered senior leader has publicly appealed to remaining cadres to abandon armed struggle and join the mainstream.

Key Points: Maoist Leader Devuji Surrenders in Operation Kagar Success

  • Senior leader Devuji surrenders
  • 16 cadre members lay down arms
  • Part of Operation Kagar-2 campaign
  • March 31 deadline to eradicate Naxalism
  • Surrendered leader urges others to follow
2 min read

Maoist leader Devuji surrenders along with 16 other cadre members

Senior Maoist commander Devuji surrenders with 16 cadre, marking a major success in India's intensified anti-Naxal Operation Kagar campaign.

"they have to be alive to realities and cannot remain trapped in dogma - Mallojula Venugopal Rao"

Hyderabad, February 23

In a major development under Operation Kagar, senior Maoist leader Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji has surrendered before the Telangana State Intelligence Bureau, sources said.

Devuji, a top commander and senior functionary of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), laid down arms along with 16 other Maoists, including Central Committee member Rajireddy.

According to sources, as part of its intensified anti-Naxal campaign, the Centre recently rolled out Operation Kagar-2, focusing specifically on Devuji and Rajireddy.

The Centre has fixed March 31 as the deadline to eradicate Naxalism from the country.

The surrender marks a significant success for security agencies in their intensified anti-Naxal campaign.

Sustained pressure from security forces is believed to have played a crucial role in prompting the senior leadership of the CPI (Maoist) to surrender.

Two Maoists were killed last week in an exchange of fire with the security personnel in the Kandhamal district of Odisha.

Sanjeeb Panda, Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Anti-Naxal Operations (ANO), stated that the encounter took place in the Karada forest area within the jurisdiction of Raikia police station in Kandhamal district.

Meanwhile, former CPI (Maoist) leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Sonu Bhupathi, has appealed to Maoist cadres still operating in the jungles to lay down arms, saying they have to be alive to realities and cannot remain trapped in dogma.

Admitting failures, he stated that the time has come for those involved in armed struggle to return to the mainstream and work among the people.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ANI, Sonu Bhupathi, who surrendered on October 15, 2025, along with 60 members of the outlawed People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), said changing ground realities have made continued "armed struggle" impractical and urged remaining cadres to follow the same path.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the surrender is good news, we must not forget the root causes. Poverty, lack of development, and land rights in these tribal areas need urgent attention. Security alone won't solve this. The March 31 deadline seems unrealistic without addressing these issues.
R
Rohit P
Salute to our security forces! Operation Kagar is showing results. The pressure is working. Hope more cadres listen to Sonu Bhupathi's appeal and choose the path of peace and development.
A
Ananya R
Sonu Bhupathi's words are powerful. "Trapped in dogma" – that's the reality check many need. Armed struggle has caused so much suffering for local communities. Time for dialogue and development to take center stage.
D
David E
Interesting development. From an outside perspective, it seems the government's dual strategy of pressure and persuasion is yielding results. The key will be successful reintegration into society for those who surrender.
K
Karthik V
A big win for Telangana police and intelligence! But let's be honest, the encounter in Odisha last week is the sad other side of this coin. Hope more surrenders mean less violence. Our jawans risk their lives every day in those forests.

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