'Didn't Do It Out Of Fear': Dreaded Maoist Deva After Surrendering Before Telangana Police

In a major development, Badse Sukka alias Deva, a member of the Dandakaranya State Zonal Committee, and Kankanala Raji Reddy, along with 18 other Maoist cadres, surrendered before the Telangana Police in Hyderabad.

Telangana Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy said, “With the surrender of Deva, the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army of the CPI (Maoist) has almost collapsed.”

Deva spoke to News18 in an exclusive interview, explaining the reasons behind his decision to surrender. “In December 2025, on the 31st, I was on my way for some work. I was travelling in my car when I was stopped during checking. They apprehended me and brought me to Hyderabad. I was questioned, and after that I realised that the situation was changing and that it was not

good to continue. That is when I decided to surrender,” he said.

When asked about the reason for his surrender, Deva said, “I was not ready to surrender initially. I had not taken that decision. Only after the police caught me did I take this decision. I was not ready to surrender at first.”

When asked if this means Maoism is over, he said, “I cannot say whether Maoism will remain or not. I cannot tell you what the situation will be.”

On Union government’s 2026 deadline to flush out Maoists, Deva said, “These deadlines are announced every year. That is not why I took this decision.”

When asked if the killing of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma and intensified central operations make him fear he would meet the same fate, Deva said, “I did not surrender because of fear. Even if it meant going to jail, I was prepared for that. I did not surrender under fear.”

According to the police, Deva was the second most important tribal leader in the CPI (Maoist) hierarchy and a contemporary of Madvi Hidma.

Madvi Hidma, one of the most powerful commanders of India’s Maoist insurgency, was killed in an encounter with security forces on November 18, 2025, in the Maredumilli forest area of Andhra Pradesh. His wife and four other Maoist cadres were also killed in the gunfight. While security agencies termed it a major blow to the Maoist movement, sections of civil rights groups alleged that the operation was a “fake” encounter.

In the aftermath of Hidma’s death, Deva emerged as a key figure within the Maoist hierarchy, taking charge of the organisation’s armed wing, the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Deva was already serving as the in-charge of Battalion Number One — regarded by security agencies as the Maoists’ last core fighting unit — and had been an Area Zonal Committee Member (AZCM) since 2021. Officials described him as one of the most influential Maoist leaders to step into a central operational role after Hidma was eliminated.

Security officials said Hidma and Deva had worked closely for years and were involved in planning several major attacks. These included the May 25, 2013 Darbha Ghati ambush, in which Maoists targeted a Congress convoy, killing 27 people, including senior party leaders and security personnel. The two were also linked to the April 2021 Sukma–Bijapur ambush, where 22 security personnel were killed in one of the deadliest attacks on forces in recent years.

“Deva followed Hidma and became an expert in military strategy, procurement of explosives, and the manufacturing of firearms and IEDs. He was a perfect strategist and ruthless in eliminating enemies. He planned several major ambushes and raids, including the Jheeram Ghati attack, in which senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma, a minister, and other Indian National Congress leaders were killed,” the DGP said.

Deva, who, is currently in the custody of the Telangana Police, carried a cumulative reward of Rs 25.47 lakh