Nakka Susheela Rani, a prominent Division Committee Member (DCM) of the CPI (Maoist), concluded her 34-year association with the outlawed group by surrendering to authorities in Nizamabad, Telangana, on Tuesday, September 15.
Known also by her alias Latha, Susheela Rani served as a DCM for the CPI (Maoist) at Maad in Chhattisgarh. Her decision to join the mainstream unfolded in the presence of Nizamabad Police, marking a significant development in the region's fight against left-wing extremism. A native of Bodhan in the Nizamabad district, Susheela Rani pursued a BSc in Hyderabad and later enrolled for a BEd course, which she did not complete, according to a police release.
Her personal life became deeply intertwined with the movement. In 1990, while studying in Hyderabad, she married Sunkara Rammohan Rao, who was already active with the banned outfit. The couple went underground together in February 1992. After Rammohan Rao's death in an exchange of fire with security personnel in 2001, she married Samala Venkateshwarlu in March 2004. Venkateshwarlu also lost his life in an encounter in 2006.
Throughout her long tenure with the CPI (Maoist), Susheela Rani operated across various states, including Hyderabad, Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, and later Chhattisgarh, fulfilling diverse roles. She was transferred to the Maad Divisional Committee (DVC) in 2014, where she remained until January 2025. During this period, she conducted political classes for cadres from the Maad, North Bastar, Gadchiroli, and East Bastar DVCs. In March 2025, increased police raids prompted her relocation to an urban area. She participated in several exchanges of fire with security forces between 2001 and 2024.
Her surrender contributes to a growing trend in Telangana, where 266 underground CPI (Maoist) cadres have come forward this year. This reflects increasing confidence in government rehabilitation policies and sustained pressure from security forces. Officials describe Susheela Rani's surrender as another substantial blow to the CPI (Maoist), suggesting the organization is nearing collapse. Presently, only three active underground cadres from Telangana — Muppala Laxman Rao alias Ganapathi, Jade Ratna Bai, and Vartha Shekhar — remain in different formations outside the state.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Siasat Gulf