Hyderabad: As security forces intensify operations to wipe out Left Wing extremism nationwide, Telangana’s four-decade battle with Naxalism is drawing renewed attention — marked by a wave of surrenders that far outnumber arrests or encounter deaths. Official data show that about 14,800 cadres belonging to various Left Wing extremist outfits, including the Communist Party of India (Maoist), have surrendered in Telangana over the past 40 years. The reported surrender of Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devji — believed to be Maoist general secretary — along with a sizeable group of cadres is expected to add to this figure, with formal confirmation likely this week. During the same period, security agencies arrested around 5,800 Maoists for involvement in subversive activities, while roughly 1,500 were killed in encounters across the state, underscoring that surrender has been the dominant pathway out of the insurgency. Over the past two years, 588 underground cadres of Maoist party across various ranks have surrendered before Telangana police, reflecting a steady weakening of the insurgent network in the state.‘Rehab incentives’To encourage defections, the state govt offers substantial rehabilitation incentives. A central committee member who surrenders before police is eligible for 25 lakh, while a state committee member receives 20 lakh. Sources said proposals have also been sent to the ministry of home affairs seeking enhanced packages.“For a central committe member, MHA offers 1 crore for surrender. Whether the ministry will accept and ratify it or not has to be seen. But police are sending proposals to help the surrendered naxals get rehabilitated better, so that they have something to rely upon to lead a dignified life,” sources said.Officials said the objective is to ensure former militants can rebuild their lives with dignity. Telangana continues to implement a surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy introduced in 2012 during the undivided Andhra Pradesh era. However, some long-standing demands remain unresolved. Many surrendered cadres had sought allocation of agricultural land — a promise that has largely remained unfulfilled. Every Maoist was given financial assistance immediately after he or she surrendered, but the other expected benefits were elusive. “In the last few decades, the replacement of surrendered Naxalites to the banned outfit was negligible,” sources said.
