Spate of surrenders later, Maoists get new face

THE BANNED COMMUNIST Party of India (Maoist) has found a new public voice after its ideological head Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu surrendered along with 60 cadres in Maharashtra earlier this month.

- NIKHILA HENRY

According to Telangana intelligence sources, Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji, believed to be the current General Secretary of the party, has doubled up as its public face under the pseudonym Abhay.

Two press releases — one denouncing Sonu and other prominent leaders of the party who surrendered, and another calling a countrywide bandh on October 24 — have come out so far under the name Abhay. The letters were issued on October 16 and came to light three days later.