Hyderabad: Intelligence agencies flagged a major gap in tracking Maoist cadre in Telangana after a recent internal report showed that only 17 members remained active, while 38 others were untraceable. Senior police officers disclosed the findings during recent Maoist surrender programmes.
According to intelligence officials, the total Maoist cadre from Telangana stood at 55. However, during the surrender of PLGA 1st Battalion commander Barse Deva on January 3, agencies confirmed that only 17 members actively participated in party activities. The whereabouts of the remaining 38 members remained unknown.
Security officials described the development as rare and concerning. They said it was unusual for such a large number of Maoist cadre from a single state to disappear without any operational trace. The absence of clarity over their status surprised even seasoned intelligence officers.
Traditionally, Maoist groups inform families if members die in encounters or due to illness. In many cases, the party conducted funerals in forest areas and shared videos with families. However, officials said families of the missing 38 members received no such information so far.
Maoist cadre Telangana may have abandoned movement, say officials
Intelligence agencies said they found no evidence that the missing Maoist cadre died while remaining active in the organisation. Therefore, officials believe many of them may have exited the movement while living underground.
Some members may have changed identities and resumed civilian life, officials said. Others may have moved outside the country during periods of reduced surveillance. Agencies continue to examine all possible angles.
Officials cited the case of Balmuri Narayana Rao from Beerpur in Jagtial mandal of the undivided Karimnagar district. He joined the People’s War group in 1980 but later distanced himself from the movement. In December 2024, police arrested him in the Antagarh area of Kanker district in Chhattisgarh. Investigators confirmed that he had lived a normal civilian life for several years.
Based on similar patterns, officials suspect that the remaining 38 missing members may also have blended into society elsewhere. However, agencies have not ruled out other possibilities.
Meanwhile, intelligence agencies confirmed that 17 Maoist cadre remained active. These included Ganapati, Devji, Sangram, Pasunuri Narahari, Bade Chokkarao, Muppidi Sambaiah, Varta Shekhar, Jode Ratnabai, Nakka Sushila, Loketi Chander Rao, Jadi Pushpa, Rangaboyina Bhagya, Badish Unga, Madvi Adume, Kashapogu Bhavani, Kunjam Idmal, and Uthimi Anil Kumar.
The issue gained attention as police conducted three surrender programmes in the past two months. During earlier disclosures, officials said 59 Maoists remained active on November 22 and 54 on December 19. However, the latest confirmation of only 17 active members raised questions over intelligence assessments.
Police officials said CPI (Maoist) had not issued any clarification on the figures so far. Security agencies said they would continue monitoring and verification to determine the current status of the missing cadre.
