Maoists are defeated, but arms cache and crores of money unaccounted for: LWE researcher

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) researcher P.V. Ramana on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) said that despite the defeat of the Maoists, the whereabouts of huge cache of arms snatched from security forces and large sums of money running into thousands of crores of rupees, extorted from various sections of society, is not known.

He also questioned the rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists and wondered whether there was a well-thought-out strategy behind providing them a monthly stipend without adequately linking rehabilitation to skill development and employment opportunities.

Speaking at the launch of his book, India’s Maoists: Glimpses into Red Insurgency, published by the Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi, at the Police Integrated Command and Control Centre in Hyderabad (ICCC), he said the country could not afford to be complacent and must maintain constant vigil despite the setbacks suffered by the Maoist movement.

Former DGP of Andhra Pradesh Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao recalled the role played by the State police, particularly the Greyhounds and the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB), in combating LWE. Noting that social inequities continue to exist in various forms, he said any nascent extremist tendencies should be identified and “nipped in the bud”.

Telangana Security Advisor and former DGP of the State B. Shivadhar Reddy said the decline of Maoist influence was not due to police action alone as welfare and development programmes implemented by governments, ideological fissures arising from the class-versus-caste debate, and the growing emphasis on education and career opportunities among youth had also contributed significantly, he said.

Telangana Today Editor K. Srinivas Reddy said that the sacrifices made by police personnel and others in the fight against Left Wing Extremism should not be forgotten. DGP (Law and Order) Mahesh Bhagwat, Greyhounds chief Anil Kumar, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar along with several serving and retired police officials, attended the event.