A landmark moment unfolded in Telangana’s fight against Left Wing Extremism when Rs 25 lakh rewardee Devji—real name Thipparri Tirupati—surrendered with 16 followers in Asifabad forests, Adilabad district, on Sunday. His role as CPI (Maoist) general secretary amplifies the impact on the banned group’s command echelon.
Successor to slain Basavaraju, the Peddapalli-born Devji was entrenched in the central committee, one of 17 Telangana operatives vital to national Maoist operations. DGP B. Shivdhar Reddy’s targeted appeal, assuring policy-driven rehabilitation, tipped the scales under the ‘Return to Village, End the Fight’ banner.
This caps a stellar 2025 for Telangana Police, recording 576 surrenders through persistent campaigns blending enforcement and empathy. Preceding events included capturing Devji’s guards in Andhra Pradesh after lethal clashes eliminating Hidma and Tek Shankar.
Media presentation of the group is lined up for Monday, pending official nod. Devji’s choice reflects mounting pressures: resource shortages, betrayals, and the allure of normalcy.
Post-surrender protocols prioritize counseling, education, and employment linkages, with monitoring to ensure compliance. This holistic strategy minimizes relapse risks while empowering ex-cadres as peace ambassadors.
Broader implications point to Maoist fragmentation, with Telangana emerging as a template for counter-insurgency. Local voices celebrate the reduced violence, envisioning economic revival in once-volatile regions through infrastructure and welfare schemes.