Maoist Akkiraju Haragopal dies due to ill-health in Chhattisgarh

Hyderabad: The CPI (Maoist) party has lost its top leader, Akkiraju Haragopal (58) alias Ramakrishna alias RK, a Central Committee member and in-charge of Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC). RK, who was also known as Saket, Panthulu, died due to chronic illness in a Maoist camp in Dandakaranya in South Bastar of Chhattisgarh on […]

Hyderabad: The CPI (Maoist) party has lost its top leader, Akkiraju Haragopal (58) alias Ramakrishna alias RK, a Central Committee member and in-charge of Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC). RK, who was also known as Saket, Panthulu, died due to chronic illness in a Maoist camp in Dandakaranya in South Bastar of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. Confirming Haragopal’s death on Thursday, sources told ‘Telangana Today’ that the information was culled out from wireless intercepts by intelligence agencies. However, there was no confirmation yet from the Maoist party.

RK was known to be an ideologue and very strong on the military craft front. He led the Maoist party when it initiated peace negotiations with the then Andhra Pradesh government led by YS Rajasekhar Reddy. Additional SP (Operations) V Tirupathi told reporters that Chhattisgarh police have confirmed the death of RK the Maoist leader.

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RK hailed from Tumrukota village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh and carried a reward of Rs 97 lakh on his head announced by different States. It may be noted that after the Ramaguda exchange of fire (EoF) in October 2016 in which nearly 30 Maoists were killed by the AP Greyhounds, questions were raised about the safety of RK, who suffered serious injuries in that encounter.

Later in November, revolutionary writer Varavara Rao said Haragopal was safe and it was confirmed following a confession by a surrendered Area Committee Member Vanthala Balakrishna Naidu alias Vivek that the control of AOBSZC was in the hands of RK. RK was also the accused in the case of a bomb attack by Naxals on former Chief Minister of undivided AP N Chandrababu Naidu at Alipiri near Tirupati in October 2003, besides several police cases in many States.

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