Underground for over four decades, top Maoist leader 'Devji' surrenders before Telangana police

Devji, presently working as the in-charge of Central Military Commission (CMC), operated from Maad in Chhattisgarh state.

In a major blow to the CPI (Maoist), its last surviving apex body has almost collapsed after Politburo Member Tippiri Tirupati alias Devji or Kumma Dada and Central Committee Member Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram surrendered to Telangana police in the presence of DGP B. Shivadhar Reddy and joined the mainstream on Tuesday. It was reported in these columns two days ago that Tirupati and Raji Reddy had surrendered, with a public announcement pending formalities.

The Telangana State Committee is also now defunct following the surrenders of Secretary Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar, Member Nune Narsimha Reddy alias Ganganna, alongside Tirupati, and Raji Reddy on Tuesday. Had they stayed in the Karreguttalu area, central security forces would likely have eliminated them under Operation Kagar or the newly launched Operation Black Forest II.

Tirupati had been underground for 44 years, while Raji Reddy spent 46 years in hiding.

“The decision by Devji, Sangram, and others reflects growing ideological differences and internal conflicts within the CPI (Maoist)’s leadership, committees, and formations,” said DGP Shivadhar Reddy on Tuesday. “Ideological divergence, rifts, and disillusionment from the gap between rhetoric and reality have eroded cohesion, leading to these four surrenders,” he added.

While encounters have eliminated Naxals elsewhere, Telangana focused on surrenders and the state police Special Intelligence Wing succeeded in contacting these leaders and convincing them to surrender.

“I appreciate the extraordinary commitment of the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) for its sustained, professional efforts that brought these four senior CPI (Maoist) leaders into the mainstream,” Shivadhar Reddy added.

Who is Devji?

Tippiri Thirupati, alias Devji, rose from Radical Students Union (RSU) president to Central Committee Member (CCM) in the banned CPI (Maoist). He was informally designated general secretary after Nambala Kesava Rao's death in a May encounter, but the Central Committee, its highest decision-making body, could not convene due to sustained security operations for ratification.

“It’s understood he was named general secretary, but without a Central Committee meeting, it wasn’t officially announced internally,” Shivadhar Reddy said.

The 62-year-old Devji hails from Korutla town, Jagtial district, Telangana. His father, Venkata Narsaiah, was a farmer and has elder sister, Leela, and younger brothers Gangadhar and Venkat.

Before joining CPI (ML) People’s War, Devji led the RSU in Korutla and later Karimnagar district. Drawn to revolutionary politics through reading and events like the 1978 Jagtial Jaitra Yatra, he joined CPI (ML) People’s War in January 1982. In April 1984, top leader Muppala Laxman Rao alias Ganapathi sent him to Dandakaranya with Sangram to form an armed squad.

In January 2001, at the 9th Congress, he became a CCM and Central Military Commission (CMC) member. He was re-elected at the 2007 Unity Congress. In 2017, he took charge of the CMC and joined the Politburo, a role he held until surrender. After Politburo Member Mallojula Venugopal alias Sonu surrendered, Devji served as the outfit’s spokesperson under the alias ‘Abhay’.