Maoists wanted to use Andhra cities for refuge and regroup, says ADGP Mahesh Laddha

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP-Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha said Andhra Pradesh will soon be declared Maoist-free and the police will achieve the target by March 2026, the deadline given by the Centre.

While presenting the Maoists arrested in Vijayawada before media persons on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Mr. Laddha said that the Maoists have chosen Andhra Pradesh as their shelter area and many of them from the forests of Chhattisgarh have taken shelter in different parts of the state. He added that they will be tried in the relevant courts.

“Madvi Hidma battalion was divided into groups and stayed in various areas for more than a month. Seeking an opportunity, the police started the operation on November 17. During the operation, 6 people were killed in ASR Zone and more than 50 people were arrested in Krishna, Eluru, NTR, Konaseema and Kakinada districts,” Mr. Laddha said.

Giving details of the operation in which 50 Maoists were arrested for the first time in the state, the State Intelligence Chief said that due to the heavy blow inflicted on Maoists in all LWE-affected states such as Chhattisgarh, Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) and Maharashtra under Operation Kagar, Maoists were forced to come out of their hideout in Chhattisgarah and move to Andhra Pradesh.

“Some hardline Naxalites, including Special Area Committee Members, Divisional and Area Committee Members, entered AP and were doing ‘reconnaissance’ at some places and targets. They planned to revive the movement by creating violence in the state and then escape to the AOB region,” Mr. Laddha said.

The police, OCTOPUS (Counter-Terrorism Organization) and Tazı police constantly monitored the Maoists using drones and carried out the operation in the state. More surrenders are expected in the coming days, he said.

“The ideology of the Maoists has become obsolete and things have changed. We appeal to the Maoists to refrain from violence and surrender before the government. Police have intensified searches to find Naxalites who escaped from the police on Tuesday, November 18,” said Intelligence ADGP.

Police teams arrested crucial cadres and seized 45 weapons, 280 cartridges, 270 bullets, communication equipment, around 12 lakh cash and Maoist literature from them.

“Of the 50 Maoists who surrendered, 28 were natives of Bastar region, 21 were from Sukma and one Naxalite was from Narayanapur district. As of now, there is no Maoist threat in the state,” Mr. Laddha stated.

Intelligence ADGP added that surrendered Naxalites will be appropriately rehabilitated as per the surrender policy.

IGPs SV Rajashekar Babu, PHD Ramakrishna and GVG Ashok Kumar, Police Inspectors Bindu Madhav, V. Vidya Sagar Naidu and K. Pratap Shiva Kishore and other officers were present.