A senior CPI (Maoist) commander, Badse Sukka, also known as Deva or Darshan, who was among about 20 Maoists to recently surrender to Telangana police, told India Today that several cadres were killed, surrendered, or returned home during Operation Kagar, the ongoing anti-Naxal security campaign targeting CPI (Maoist) networks in forested areas of south Bastar and adjoining regions, including parts of Telangana. India Today

In an exclusive interview, Deva — a senior commander in the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) — said he was apprehended during a police check while travelling in a Bolero vehicle with arms. He handed over a diary containing details of weapons storage locations, information that has helped security forces recover arms caches linked to the insurgent group. India Today

Deva (49), a native of Puvvarthi village in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, had served as a PLGA battalion commander and was regarded as one of the influential tribal leaders within the Maoist hierarchy. He joined the CPI (Maoist) in 2003, influenced by senior leader Madvi Hidma, and over the years developed expertise in military planning, explosives procurement, and the manufacture of firearms and improvised explosive devices. India Today

Following Hidma’s promotion in late 2023, Deva was appointed battalion commander and played a key role in reorganising Maoist formations amid intensified anti-Naxal operations in south Bastar in 2024. He was later deployed to oversee security and logistics in the KGH area. India Today

Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cumulative reward of ₹75 lakh for information leading to Deva’s arrest, reflecting his high profile within the banned organisation.