IED event in Telangana, Erraboru Forest area under Cherla Mandal (administrative sub division) in Bhadradri Kothagudem District area, India on Tue 21st February 2023

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) party Sabari Local Organisation Squad (LOS) ÔcommanderÕ, identified as Paddam Kosaiah alias Sandeep, who carries a cash reward of INR 400,000 on his head, was arrested by the Police during combing operation in Erraboru Forest area under Cherla Mandal (administrative sub division) in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana on February 21, reports Telangana Today. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) training book, 10 gelatin sticks, two detonators, cordex wire, one tiffin box, electric wire, batteries and Maoist literature were seized from his possession. Sandeep of Chennapuram village in the Mandal joined the Maoists in 2017 as 'militia' (people's army of the Maoists) member. Since October 2022 he has been working as the Sabari LOS ÔcommanderÕ and carries a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) weapon. He was involved in the abduction and murder of Kurnapalli deputy Sarpanch (head of the Panchayat, village level local self-Government institution) in Cherla Mandal in August 2022. He was also involved in the murder of Mandal Parishad Territorial Candidate (MPTC) member N Srinivas in July 2019, killing of 17 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnels in an ambush under Chintaguppa Police Station limits in March 2020 and killing of 24 CRPF personnels at Tekulagudem under Tarrem Police Station limits in Chhattisgarh State in April 2021. During interrogation Sandeep confessed to Police that he tried to surrender to Police many times but the Maoist leaders forced him to commit crimes. There were 27 cases booked against him in Telangana, seven cases in Andhra Pradesh and eight cases in Chhattisgarh State.