Top Maoist Commander Barse Deva Surrenders in Telangana, Deals Major Blow to PLGA

• Senior Maoist commander Barse Deva, a close associate of Madvi Hidma, surrendered in Telangana to DGP B Shivadhar Reddy.
• Deva, carrying a ₹25.47 lakh reward, was in-charge of Battalion Number 1, the Maoists' core fighting unit, and surrendered with 15-17 cadres.
• He played a critical role in weapons procurement, logistics, and planning major attacks like the 2013 Darbha Ghati and 2021 Sukma-Bijapur ambushes.
• His surrender, following Hidma's death, is a major blow to the Maoist leadership and operational structure, further weakening the PLGA.
• The PLGA, once 10,000-12,000 strong, is now considered on the verge of collapse due to sustained counter-insurgency operations.

Why It Matters: Top Maoist commander Barse Deva's surrender deals a critical blow to the PLGA's operational capabilities.