Society must be changed: Top Maoist post surrender

The senior most leader of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist in Andhra Pradesh K Ilaiah alias Sambasivudu, who surrendered before the police on Sunday night, said that he took the decision to come out of the underground movement because of his ill health and loss of interest in the armed struggle.

Sambasivudu, who is involved in about a hundred offences including the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the then chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and the killing of ten people including a Congress legislator C Narsi Reddy, said that of late he had become desperate to rejoin his family and lead a normal and peaceful life.

Samba was produced before the media in the presence of the state home minister, K Jana Reddy on Monday where he was not willing to talk about the present position and strength of the CPI-Maoist in the state.

On a question whether he was repentant on his violent activities in the past, Sambasivudu said, "In my view I have not committed any violence. I had joined the organisation and participated in its activities because of my conviction that there should be a change in the society. The organisation is still doing the same thing."

"I held the position of the state secretary of the CPI-Maoist till the end 2007 when the committee was dissolved. I remained a state committee member till I decided to surrender and informed the party about it," Sambasivudu added.

He said that after he developed joint pains, it had become difficult for him to carry out the activities of the organisation. "I felt unable to fulfill my responsibility," he said.

He evaded a question about his involvement in the attack on Chandrabau Naidu and killing of Congress legislator C Narsi Reddy.

The Home Minister K Jana Reddy said that the officials will review his cases from a humanitarian angle after talking to him. The minister also assured that the government will extend assistance for Sambasivudu's rehabilitation. Reddy also appealed to the other cadres of the CPI-Maoists to come out and join the mainstream as they can solve the problems through democratic and peaceful means as well.

The Andhra Pradesh government had put a reward of Rs 10 lakh on Sambasivudus's head and under the state policy, Sambasivudu will get that money as he had surrendered.

Meanwhile Sambasivudu's parents appealed to the people not to cause any harm to him and not to book any case against him as he had surrendered to the police. "If any thing happens to him, we will not be able to live", his mother said.