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Top Naxalite leader surrenders

Special Correspondent

Surrender of Lanka Papi Reddy expected to jolt Maoist movement

Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Turning point: CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member Lanka Papi Reddy surrenders before Home Minister K. Jana Reddy in Hyderabad on Saturday.

HYDERABAD: A Central Committee Member of the CPI (Maoist) Lanka Papi Reddy alias Ranganna surrendered before Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K. Jana Reddy in the Secretariat on Saturday.

The surrender of the top naxal leader is expected to provide a jolt to the Maoist movement in the Dandakaranya area. Papi Reddy served the banned outfit in various capacities in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh before being made in-charge of Haryana, a position he held till the surrender.

The Maoist leader said he had surrendered on grounds of ill-health but refused to respond to the question whether he found the extremist movement useful to society. The Home Minister said Papi Reddy had sent feelers to the Government a week ago that he planned to surrender.

Forty-six-year-old Papi Reddy, who belongs to Mutyalapalli in Atmakur mandal of Warangal district, joined the underground movement as an Intermediate student. He went underground in 1980 and steadily rose in the erstwhile People’s War and went on to hold several key positions in the organisation.

He married another naxalite Saroja of Maharashtra. Efforts are being made to see that Saroja (38), being a member of Ahiri dalam in Maharashtra, also gives herself up. Their only daughter, Tejasri, has been adopted by the Warangal SP, and is studying in Class VII.

Full rehabilitation

Papi Reddy carries a reward of Rs. 12 lakh on his head and the Home Minister said the amount would be passed onto him as per the existing guidelines. He would be fully rehabilitated, provided protection from naxalites and steps taken to ensure that he was not subject to harassment by police.

The surrendered naxalite thanked the Government for the magnanimity shown to enable him to join the mainstream, while the Home Minister welcomed the development saying “it’s a good day for us”. He appealed to the Maoists to follow the example of Papi Reddy by eschewing violence. They could preach their ideology through democratic means and serve the people. A.K. Khan, Additional DG, Law & Order, who was present, said Papi Reddy was involved in cases of dacoity, abduction and killing.

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