DGP Harish Kumar Gupta. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta on Thursday (November 20, 2025) claimed that everything was being achieved to declare Andhra Pradesh free from left-wing extremism by the end of next March.
Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta on Thursday (November 20, 2025) arrived at Rampachodavaram to review the ongoing ‘Operation Sambhav’ launched to eliminate the Maoists who arrived from South Bastar to Maredumilli agency to reportedly revive the Naxal movement.
“We have already given a call to the Maoists, who are attempting to establish their shelter in Andhra Pradesh, to surrender. Otherwise, they will be either caught or neutarlised”, said Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta in an interaction with newsmen in Rampachodavaram in Alluri Sitarama Raju district.
Referring to Kintakuru encounter, in which three Maoists were killed in June, Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta stated; “We have been asking the Maoists to surrender since Kintakuru encounter. The Centre has set March 2026 as a deadline to declare Andhra Pradesh free from left-wing extremism. All the security forces (deployed in Andhra Pradesh) are on that task.”
In June encounter in Maredumilli agency in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, three Maoists including Gajarla Ravi alias Uday, CPI (Maoist) central committee member and secretary of Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), Raavi Venkata Chaitanya alias Aruna, were killed.
“At least 13 Maoists, including the most wanted Madvi Hidma, have been killed in the two encounters within two days in Maredumilli agency during the Operation Sambhav. There is no place for violence in Andhra Pradesh”, said Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta.
Devuji not in custody
On the alleged arrest of CPI (Maoist) general secretary Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji, Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta has announced; “He (Devuji) is not in our custody”.
Additional Director-General of Police (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha who briefed Mr. Gupta about the Operation Sambhav in the Maredumilli agency by displaying the seized weapons from the encounter sites. Alluri Sitarama Raju Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar was also present.
Published – November 20, 2025 03:06 pm IST
