Sujatha’s surrender a major setback to Maoist movement, says Bastar IG

Welcoming the surrender of Communist Party of India (Maoist) Central Committee member Pothula Padmavathi alias Sujatha in Telangana on Saturday, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P. Sundarraj described it as a major setback to the Maoist movement in the Dandakaranya region.

He said the Central Committee member carried a reward of ₹40 lakh and was wanted in more than 72 cases registered across various districts in Bastar Range.

“Sujatha’s surrender is a clear acknowledgment of the futility of continuing violence in the face of the robust, multi-pronged counter-Maoist strategy being implemented in Bastar. The proactive policing efforts, combined with the Government’s strong focus on development and welfare, have weakened the Maoists’ influence and eroded their support base on the ground,” he said.

Following Sujatha’s surrender and the killing of Manoj alias Modem Balakrishna in an anti-Naxal operation in Gariyaband district two days ago, 11 Central Committee and polit bureau members remain in the Maoist ranks, he added.

Mr. Sundarraj said that in recent months the Maoists had suffered successive setbacks in Bastar Range and other Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts of Chhattisgarh, including the neutralisation of senior leaders, large recoveries of weapons and explosives, and the dismantling of multiple hideouts in their erstwhile strongholds.

“These sustained operations have denied them space to regroup or expand, forcing even their top leadership to lose confidence in the outfit’s future,” he said.

On reports of a new general secretary taking over the reins of the CPI (Maoist) after the post remained vacant following the killing of Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju in May, Mr. Sundarraj said there was still no clarity on who had assumed charge. “Instead, a bitter power struggle rages among Devji, Sonu, and other cadres - each desperate to grab the position and exploit the extortion money looted from innocent villagers… At this stage, it no longer matters who calls himself or herself General Secretary or Area Secretary,” he said.