Naxal terrorist Chelluri Narayana Rao a senior leader surrendered to Andhra Police

Nine Maoists, including a senior leader, have surrendered to authorities in Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant milestone in the state's battle against Left Wing Extremism (LWE). Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta announced the development on Monday, emphasising that LWE has effectively been eradicated within the state's borders.

The group included C Narayana Rao, a long-time Maoist figure who served as secretary of the Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) division. Rao had been active in the insurgency for 36 years, rising from Area Committee Member to Central Committee Member before leading the AOB Special Zone Committee.

His surrender is particularly notable given his involvement in high-profile crimes. These encompass the 2018 murder of MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao, the 2001 killing of Circle Inspector Gandhi, and the 1997 assassination of Head Constable Narendra Das. Rao joined the movement in 1990, embodying decades of persistent underground activity.

DGP Gupta highlighted the alignment with the central government's pledge to eliminate LWE nationwide by 31 March 2026. "The Centre made a promise that it would bring an end to LWE before March 31, 2026. In this process, we did our bit over the last two years. Today, LWE has come to an end in Andhra Pradesh," he stated during a press conference in Amaravati.

State police issued repeated calls for Maoists to lay down arms and reintegrate into mainstream society. Gupta asserted that the underground Maoist presence in Andhra Pradesh has dwindled to zero active cadres, thanks to relentless intelligence-driven operations.

This achievement stems from coordinated efforts by elite units such as the Greyhounds, the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), and district police teams. Their counter-insurgency operations have dismantled Maoist networks across the state, applying sustained pressure that eroded the insurgents' operational capacity.

Andhra Pradesh police have extended support to neighbouring states, aiding anti-Maoist drives in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. This regional collaboration underscores a broader strategy to contain LWE, which has historically thrived in forested border areas.

Operationally, the past period saw 18 exchanges of fire, 81 arrests, and 106 surrenders, culminating in 205 total actions. Many of the recent surrenders involved cadres who joined between 2017 and 2023, participating in ambushes, attacks on security camps, and other violent acts.

Authorities seized substantial materiel from the group, including BGL shells, ammunition, detonators, gelatin sticks, CORDEX wire, and manpacks for communication. These items highlight the Maoists' residual capacity for improvised explosive attacks and coordination.

The surrenders reflect deeper trends: a shrinking support base among locals, growing disillusionment with Maoist ideology, and the appeal of the state government's rehabilitation policies. These incentives have encouraged defections, accelerating the insurgency's collapse in the state.

This development aligns with national progress, where over 10,000 Maoists have laid down arms in the last decade. In Odisha alone, 77 have surrendered since January 2025, signalling a pan-India decline in LWE viability.

Andhra Pradesh's success demonstrates the efficacy of hybrid strategies combining kinetic operations, intelligence dominance, and socio-economic outreach. As the state declares victory, attention shifts to sustaining peace through development in former red corridors, preventing any resurgence.

PTI