Woman Maoist from Telangana’s Warangal killed in Chhattisgarh encounter

Gummadivelli Renuka, CPI (Maoist) Central Regional Bureau press team in-charge, carried a collective reward of Rs 45 lakh

Kothagudem: A senior woman Maoist carrying a collective reward of Rs 45 lakh was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh‘s Bastar region on Monday, police officials said.

Dantewada DRG and Bastar Fighters took part in the encounter in the forests near Nelgoda, Ikeli and Belnar villages on the borders of Dantewada and Bijapur districts.

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CPI (Maoist) party Central Regional Bureau (CRB) press team in-charge, Prabhat Patrika editor and Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member Gummadivelli Renuka alias Bhanu alias Chaite alias Saraswati was carrying a reward of Rs 45 lakh (Rs 25 lakh reward by Chhattisgarh government and Rs 20 lakh by Telangana government).

Renuka, who studied LLB, belonged to Kadavendi of erstwhile Warangal district. She joined the party in 1996 and worked with SZCM Krishnanna in Andhra Pradesh. In 2003, she was promoted as DVCM. In 2006, she worked with Central Committee Member Dula Dada alias Anand in South Bastar.

In 2013, she came to the Maad region and worked with SZCM Ramanna. After Ramanna died of Covid, she was made the press team in-charge of CRB in 2020. She used to issue press releases on behalf of the naxals; print and publish various magazines like Prabhat, Mahila Margam, Awami Jung, People’s March, Podiyaro Pollo, Jhankar, Sangharshmarti Mahila, Pituri, Midangur and Bhumkal Sandesh.

Ranuka’s brother SZCM GVK Prasad alias Sukhdev alias Gudsa Usendi surrendered in Telangana in 2014. In 2005, she married CCM Shankamuri Apparao alias Ravi, who was killed in 2010 in Nallamala encounter in AP.

An INSAS rifle along with explosive material, laptop, naxal literature and other items were recovered along with her body.

Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P said in 2025, as a result of an effective anti-Maoist campaign by the security forces, as many as 119 hardcore Maoists were killed in 92 days.