‘Red terror’ Usendi gives himself up

Hyderabad: In a big blow to the Maoist movement in Chattisgharh, top leader and spokesperson of the Chattisgharh Maoist party, Gumudavelli Venkatakrishna Prasad alias Gudsa Usendi, surrendered to the Special Intelligence Branch of AP  police on Wednesday.

Usendi is believed to be privy to vital information about the Maoist party in Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country.

Usendi, 53, is from Kadavendi village in Devaruppala mandal in Warangal district. There was a price of Rs 20 lakh on his head.

He is fluent in Gondi and other tribal languages and has good relations with the common people in Dandakaranya as well as with the top Maoist leaders of other states.

His reasons for surrendering are said to be differences with the Maoist leadership on policy matters and his poor health.

Remorse of Usendi created rift

Hyderabad: Sources said that Raji, wife of spokesperson of the Chattisgharh State Maoist Special Zonal Committee, Gudsa Usendi, has surrendered before the AP?police.

Usendi was wanted for his involvement in the killing of 27 people including Congress leaders V.C. Shukla and Mahendra Karma, in Jiram Ghati, and also the killing of 76 CRPF jawans in Tarmetala.

A policeman familiar with anti-Naxal operations said it was Usendi who issued press releases and audio statements after killings and bandhs and also on policy issues.

He was known for his drafting skills in English, Hindi and Telugu and wrote analysis reports on the CPI Maoist’s policies and strategies.

Though he was involved in the Jiran Ghati massacre, he is said to have felt remorse about it later as innocent people had been killed. This created a rift between him and the top Maoist leadership in Dandakaranya.