Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta inspects weapons recovered from surrendered Maoists in Vijayawada on Monday (March 30). | Photo credit: GN Rao
Senior Maoist commander Chelluru Narayana Rao, alias Somanna, spoke to the media after surrendering before the Andhra Pradesh Police in Vijayawada on Monday (March 30). | Photo credit: GN Rao
Nine members of the banned CPI-(Maoist), including party central committee member (CCM) and Andhra Odisha Border Special Economic Zone (AOBSZC) secretary Chelluri Narayana Rao alias Suresh, surrendered before Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta here on Monday (March 30).
Just a day before the Center set a deadline for eliminating Maoism in the country (March 31, 2026), the DGP announced that nine Maoists, including the party secretary of CCM and AOBSZC, had surrendered and given up arms.
Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta has declared Andhra Pradesh as a Naxal free state and that there are no Maoists operating in the state.
Along with Chelluri Narayana Rao, Company Platoon Commander Kartam Lachhu, Area Committee Member Podium Raje alias Rame and other party cadres Kartam Adame alias Nangi, Muchaki Masa alias Ajith, Madvi Jogi alias Rukuni, Muchaki Laxman alias Lakma, Madivi Adama and Kadithi, the mainstream of Hurry.
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They surrendered before the police with an INSAS rifle, 2 BGL guns, five 303, five SBBL and six single shot rifles, seven BGL cartridges, 22 ammunition, 13 detonators, five gelatin sticks and 13 man packs, the DGP said at a press conference here on Monday.
The surrendered Maoist CCM was involved in the killing of MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao, former MLA Siveri Someswara Rao in 2018 and the murder of Circle Inspector Muddada Gandhi, his personal security officer and a police constable in 2001, said Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta.
Mr. Narayana Rao carried a bounty of ₹25 lakh while Kartam Lachhu carried a bounty of ₹5 lakh.
Kartam Lachhu was involved in the April 2021 Tekkulaguda ambush in which 22 policemen were killed and the attack on Dharmavaram camp in 2024 and the attack on Elamagunda camp in 2023, the DGP explained.
Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta along with Additional DGP (Law and Order) N. Madhusudhana Reddy, ADGP (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha, Inspector General of Police (IGP-Special Intelligence) PHD Ramakrishna handed over ₹20,000 as immediate assistance to the Maoists to surrender.
Published – 30 March 2026 16:02 IST
