Among the four Maoists killed in an encounter with security forces in Kandhamal district in Odisha was a senior Maoist leader and Central Committee member Paka Hanumanth alias Ganesh Uike, hailing from Telangana.
Hanumanth, who carried a reward of ₹ 1.10 crore on his head, was a native of Pullemla village in Chandur mandal of Nalgonda district. He was considered a key strategist within the Maoist organisation.
Born in 1961, he was the eldest of six siblings. Police records indicate that Hanumanth completed his Class 10 education in Chandur, pursued intermediate and degree studies in Nalgonda, and was initially associated with the Radical Students Union, which was affiliated to the then People’s War Group and later known as CPI (Maoist). He went underground and formally joined the Naxalite movement, allegedly after the assassination of one Yechury Srinivas about 40 years ago.
Since then, Hanumanth remained away from his family and did not return home, even during the death of his parents. Over the decades, he steadily rose through the ranks of the organisation, moving from mandal-level committees to district and State leadership, and eventually becoming a Central Committee member overseeing operations across three States. Sources said Hanumanth had been suffering from health issues in recent years but continued to remain active in the movement. His father had been associated with Left parties, and police believe that the political environment at home played a role in shaping his ideological leanings from an early age.
Published – December 25, 2025 09:05 pm IST
