Top Maoist leader Thippiri Tirupati, also known as Devji, has surrendered to Telangana Police, dealing a significant blow to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Devji surrendered in the Asifabad forests in the united Adilabad district, along with sixteen other Maoists. This surrender follows the killing of Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju in an encounter last year.
Devji, a Central Committee Member and Police Bureau Member of CPI (Maoist), was a highly sought-after Maoist leader with a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head. He was among the 17 Maoist leaders from Telangana holding key positions in various committees of CPI (Maoist) nationwide. Telangana Police are expected to present the surrendered Maoists before the media soon.
Telangana Police have been actively encouraging Maoists to surrender, with the aim of rehabilitating them as promised by the government. Last month, Telangana’s Director General of Police appealed to Maoists to give up their underground life and reintegrate into society. The police have been taking steps to facilitate the surrender of Maoists, with a total of 576 Maoists surrendering to the Telangana Police in 2025, marking a significant development since the formation of CPI (Maoist) in 1980.
