India News : Potula Kalpana, also known as Sujathakka or Sujata, a senior leader of the CPI (Maoist) and a wanted Maoist with a bounty of ₹1 crore on her head, surrendered to Telangana Police on Saturday, ending her 43 years underground.
Sujathakka, currently the only senior woman member of the Maoist central committee, is also the widow of Kishenji, a top Maoist leader who was killed in a police encounter in West Bengal in 2011. She is accused in 106 criminal cases and was heading the South Sub-Zonal Bureau of Chhattisgarh before her surrender.
Telangana Director General of Police Dr. Jitender said Sujathakka hails from Penchikalpadu village in Gattu Mandal, Gadwal district, Telangana. She began her Maoist activities through the Radical Students Union (RSU) and Jana Natya Mandali, becoming a commander in 1996 and joining the state committee in 2001. She later stepped down from her post due to health issues.
Dr. Jitender stated that Sujathakka will receive ₹25 lakh under the government’s surrender and rehabilitation scheme. “We invite Maoists to return to the mainstream of life. Many are surrendering,” he said.
Addressing the media, the DGP revealed that currently, 78 people from Telangana are active members of the CPI (Maoist), including 10 of the 15 central committee members. He emphasized that Maoist surrenders are a gradual process that cannot happen overnight and require formal procedures.
Last year, 22 Maoists were killed in encounters in Telangana. This year so far, 10 Maoists have been killed. Previous talks between the police and Maoists have taken place, and under the ongoing Operation Kagaar, Maoists have proposed talks seeking security guarantees.
The police have identified 73 Maoists in the Telangana committee, of which 11 are from Telangana and 62 from other states. The surrender of a senior leader like Sujathakka is a significant step towards peace and stability in the region.
