Date:13/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/13/stories/2007101350380100.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Top Maoist leader surrenders

Correspondent

Ramakanth

MAHABUBNAGAR: The CPI (Maoist) received yet another setback when its Mahabubnagar district committee secretary (DCS) Ramakanth alias Gunduru Srinu surrendered before Superintendent of Police Charu Sinha and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajesh Kumar here on Friday.

The naxalite, an accused in the brutal gunning down of Congress MLA from Makhtal C. Narsi Reddy about two years ago, was involved in as many as 75 crimes, including eight murders.

Ramakanth, who used to be armed with AK- 47 rifle, which symbolised his importance in the CPI (Maoist) hierarchy, carried a reward of Rs. 5 lakh on his head. His wife, Rajitha, who was a commander of Telkapally dalam in the district, had recently surrendered to the police.

Explaining the reasons for his surrender, Ramakanth, who was produced before media persons, said ill-health and other problems forced him to come out of the jungle.

The Maoist leader justified the elimination of Narsi Reddy, but expressed regret for killing 10 others in the ghastly attack. The party too expressed its concern at a review meeting held after the killings. The Maoist leader said that the party was going through a “weak” phase and not receiving the support it expected from the villagers as the police or the Government was solving their problems. He said there was no new recruitment in the party for quite some time now.

Hailing from Ajilapoor village of Veldanda mandal, Ramakanth studied up to Intermediate before joining the People’s War in 1995. He was arrested once but jumped bail in 1998 and went underground. After serving the party in various positions as Dalam member of Kalwakurthy, deputy commander of upper plateau, commander of Nallamala dalam and platoon commander, he was appointed as DCS this year.

Ms. Charu Sinha said that she would make all efforts for his rehabilitation and appealed to other underground cadre Shyam, Uma, Shoba, Vikram and Anjaneylu to come out and join the mainstream.

The SP commended the police team led by OSD Rajesh Kumar, Kishan, Majid, Ravinder, Balchauhan and Murali Krishna for their efforts in getting Ramakanth to surrender.