Key Maoist leader Sujatha arrested by Telangana Police in Chhattisgarh

HYDERABAD: In a major setback for the Maoists, another key leader, Sujatha, was arrested by Telangana police while she was en route to a hospital in Kothagudem for medical treatment. The arrest took place in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, marking a significant development amidst a series of recent encounters that have severely affected Maoist ranks.

Sujatha, a senior figure within the Maoist party, held crucial positions and had bounties exceeding Rs. 1 crore across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, according to officials. She was the in-charge of the Bastar Divisional Committee and had been on the most-wanted list for her involvement in several incidents in the Sukma region.

The arrest comes shortly after a major encounter on October 4 in Chhattisgarh’s agency area, where 31 Maoists, including 13 women, were killed. The operation took place on the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts after police received intelligence of a meeting involving top Maoist leaders. Joint forces from the DRG, CRPF-CoBRA, and STF launched a combing operation, resulting in a two-hour gun battle in the forested area between Nendhur and Tulatuli villages.

The deceased were identified as members of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) 6th Company and the Eastern Bastar Division. Among those killed was Niti alias Urmila, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, who had a Rs. 25 lakh reward on her head, along with Divisional Committee members Suresh Salam and Meena Madkam.