On December 1, 2024, at least seven cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with security personnel in the Chalpaka Forest area near Eturunagaram village in the Eturunagaram Mandal (administrative subdivision) in the Mulugu District of Telangana. The slain Maoists include Bhadru alias Kursam Mangu alias Papanna (35), ‘commander’ of the Yellandu-Narsampet area committee and ‘secretary’ of the CPI-Maoist’s Telangana State Committee. The other six Maoists were identified as Egolapu Mallaiah alias Madhu (43), a ‘Divisional Committee Member (DVCM)’ and ‘secretary’ of the Eturunagaram Mahadevpur Area; Mussaki Deval alias Karunakar (22), and Mussaki Jamuna (23), both ‘area committee members (ACMs)’; and party members Jai Singh (25), Kishore (22), and Kamesh (23). Police recovered an AK-47, one G-3 rifle, and an INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle, along with other firearms and explosives, from the encounter site. Superintendent of Police (SP) Shabarish P. confirmed that the operation was part of efforts to curb Maoist resurgence in the region.
Significantly, the anti-Maoist operation came just a day before the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA’s) Martyrs’ Week celebrations (December 2 to 8), severely impacting their proposed expansion projects in the 25th year of the PLGA formation, as the Police claimed that they found some signs of the extremist group’s activities and plans. An unnamed Police official observed,
After visiting the encounter, we found chaos and intense damage with bodies scattered and huge supplies of food and other essentials abandoned across a large forest area. We also recovered Rs. 46,000 in cash from Bhadru’s kit bag, along with revolutionary literature and food supplies.
The December 1, 2024, encounter is the first major setback for Maoist activities in the area since February 17, 2019, when Mulugu was formed by bifurcating the Jayashankar Bhupalpally District, and the rebels reorganised in the Mulugu district to revive their activities.
According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least seven Maoists have been killed in Mulugu District in the current year, thus far (data till December 8, 2024). During the corresponding period of 2023, there were no Maoist fatalities in the district, nor any in the remaining 24 days of the year. Three Maoists were killed in the district in 2022. Since its February 17, 2019, formation to December 8, 2024, at least 15 Maoists have been killed in the district.
In the fight against the extremists since 2014, the SFs have relentlessly dominated the ground and have not lost a single trooper in the district.
There have been three civilian fatalities in the current year in the Mulugu District. The district recorded a maximum of three fatalities in 2024, while a low of single fatalities was recorded in 2020 and 2022. 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023 recorded no fatalities in this category. Mulugu has recorded a total of five civilian fatalities since February 17, 2019.
At least 12 Maoists/associates have been arrested during search operations and combing raids in the district since the beginning of the current year (all data till December 8, 2024). During the corresponding period of 2023, there were six such arrests, and no further arrests were recorded during the remaining days of 2023. Six Maoists were arrested in 2022. Between February 17, 2019, when the district came into being, and December 8, 2024, at least 47 Maoists have been arrested.
In addition, two Maoists have surrendered in the district in the current year (data till December 8, 2024). Two surrenders took place in the corresponding period of 2023, and another one during the remaining 24 days of 2023. Two surrenders took place in 2022. Since 2019, at least 11 Maoists have surrendered in the district.
Having suffered huge losses in a series of exchanges of fire with the central forces, police, and greyhounds in recent months in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, the Maoists are sneaking across the Telangana borders for shelter, especially in Mulugu and the neighbouring Bhadradri Kothagudem.
Mulugu occupies an area of 3,881 square kilometres, with 2,936.98 square kilometres, about 75.67 percent of its total geographical area, under forest cover, spreading over Venkatapuram, Tadwai, and Mulugu divisions. The Eturunagaram Wildlife Sanctuary lies in this forest area. The district shares borders with Jayashankar Bhupalapally District to the north, Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh state to the east, Warangal (Rural) District to the west and Bhadradri Kothagudem and Mahabubabad to the south. There is one revenue division of Mulugu under this district, which includes nine mandals (revenue units) and 174 village panchayats (village level self-government bodies). The physiography of the district embraces plains, hills, and mountains, creating large safe havens for the extremists.
Meanwhile, on December 5, 2024, Jagan, the official ‘spokesperson’ for the CPI-Maoist state committee, gave a statewide bandh (general shutdown strike) call on December 9, 2024, in protest against the killing of the seven Maoists on December 1, 2024.
Significantly, on November 23, 2024, tribal people from different parts of Mulugu District took out a rally in Eturnagaram, the revenue division headquarters, in protest against the killing of two Adivasis, including Peruru Gram Panchayat (village-level local self-Government institution) secretary Uika Ramesh and a tribal youth Uika Arjun, allegedly by the Maoists in the Wazedu Mandal of the district on November 21, 2024. The protesters, comprising Adivasis from several remote tribal hamlets, marched through the main streets of Eturunagaram, displaying banners denouncing the brutal killing of the two Adivasis by the ultras, after branding them as ‘police informers’.
While the Maoists have long been on the defensive in the district, their efforts to restore capacities and operations persevere.
A report dated February 6, 2024, noted that, to make their presence felt and to win the support of the public, Venkatesh, ‘secretary’ of the ‘Jayashankar, Mulugu, Warangal, and Peddapally (JMWP) Division Committee’ of the CPI-Maoist, released a letter demanding that the state government make arrangements in full accordance with Adivasi (tribal) customs for the Sammakka Saralamma Jathara (festival honouring the Goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma, celebrated in Telangana) scheduled between February 21 and 24, 2024, at Medaram village in Mulugu District. In the letter, the Maoists warned against distributing anything (such as laddu or pulihora, traditional sweets) other than jaggery, to devotees as prasadam (consecrated offerings) at Medaram village. They also demanded that the government implement special measures, such as ensuring cleanliness standards, maintaining hygiene, and immediately compensating farmers who left their crops to conduct the festival.
Meanwhile, on July 1, 2024, six CPI-Maoist ‘militia’ (Maoist “people’s army”) members were arrested amidst a police vehicle inspection at the Kothapalli crossroads, while they were fleeing with explosive materials in Mulugu District. Upon interrogation, the arrestees admitted to their longstanding involvement with the CPI-Maoist and that they were reportedly on a mission to plant explosives targeting both police personnel and civilians, ostensibly to deter their entry into forested zones. Authorities recovered gelatin sticks, batteries, detonators, wires, and revolutionary literature, from their possession. The identities of the arrested ‘militia’ members are yet to be confirmed.
Earlier, on June 9, 2024, the Police neutralised four landmines allegedly planted by the Maoists in the Veerabhadra Forest area under Venkatapuram Police limits in Mulugu District. Three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in exploded condition, killing a pig and a domestic dog, the carcasses of which were found. The other unexploded landmine was defused by the Police. It is useful to recall, here, that a dalit tribal, Yellandula Yesu (55), died when he stepped on a landmine planted by Maoists on the Karregutta Hillock in the Kongala Forests of the Venkatapuram Mandal in Mulugu District, on June 3, 2024.
On June 15, 2024, six CPI-Maoist cadres – Karam Bhudri alias Reetha, a Wazedu-Venkatapuram Area Committee ‘deputy commander’; Sodi Kosi alias Mothe, a Palmedu ‘area committee member (ACM)’; Sodi Vijay alias Iduma, a member of Battalion 1; Kudam Dasru, Sodi Urra, and Madakam Bhima, all three ‘militia’ members – were arrested by the Venkatapuram Police in Mulugu District. Disclosing details about the arrests, Mulugu SP Shabarish P. stated that the CPI-Maoist and ‘militia’ members of the Wazedu-Venkatapuram Area Committee and Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of the Party, came together to set up their guerilla base in the Tadapal Forest area of Venkatapuram Mandal on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. Acting on a tip-off, the Police noticed a group of armed Maoists planting explosives along the footpath, to prevent entry into the forest area. The Police seized explosives as well as a Double Barrel Breech Loading (DBBL) shotgun, four kit bags and two walkie-talkies.
At least four incidents of recovery of arms have been recorded in Mulugu in the current year, thus far (data till December 8, 2024). A total of 23 such recoveries have been registered in the district since February 17, 2019.
On December 23, 2020, while inaugurating a police training centre at Mulugu and Battle Obstacle Assault Course (BOAC) tracks at Jakaram village in the district, to curb Maoist activities in Mulugu, then Director General of Police (DGP) M. Mahender Reddy also conferred with local officials on strategies adopted to wean away tribal youth from Maoist influence. At the same time, the intelligence wing has also been tracking the movement of the ultras and is taking all measures to push the Maoists out of the district as well as the state.
Facing severe losses across the country, the Maoists are on a constant lookout for safe haven, and this is where Mulugu District fits in, with its challenging terrain and geographical juxtaposition or proximity to Maoist affected regions in neighbouring states. However, resolute SF consolidation and waning Maoist influence in the district making it difficult for the rebels to regain their erstwhile areas of dominance. The Maoists are under mounting threat, and this opportunity needs to be fortified by aggressive SF operations for a lasting peace in the district and across Telangana state.
