SAA event in Telangana, Gundala, Bhadradri Kothagudem District area, India on Fri 2nd August 2024

On August 1, Police arrested three Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, including a woman cadre, and a sympathiser from Damaratogu Forest area in Gundala Mandal (administrative sub division) in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana, reports Telangana Today. Superintendent of Police (SP) B Rohith Raju informed that Naxals [Left Wing Extremists, LWEs], Pottam Raju and Oyam Pandu of Chhattisgarh, Punem Chukki of Mulugu District, and sympathiser Shyamala Mukesh of Dameratogu were arrested during a combing operation in the forest area. Raju, who joined the Maoists in 2016, was promoted to ‘area committee member (ACM)’ in 2022 and involved in 42 offences. Pandu joined the Maoists in 2021 and was involved in 19 crimes, while Chukki, who joined in 2023, took part in three offences. Police seized one INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle along with 29 live rounds from Raju, a.303 rifle along with 12 rounds from Pandu, and an axe from Chukki, besides pamphlets from Mukesh. The arrested, along with other sympathisers, were holding a meeting at Dameratogu to discuss measures to revive the CPI-Maoist Party in Bhadradri Kothagudem District when they were arrested, the SP said.|