IN A major breakthrough, Telangana police have apprehended Kalpana alias Sujata, a veteran Naxalite leader with a four-decade-long history of operating in Bastar. The 60-year-old, who had a substantial bounty on her head, was arrested in Mahbubnagar, Hyderabad. Sujata has held significant positions in the Naxalite movement, including leading the South Bastar Divisional Committee. As per sources, following the death of Naxalite leader Ramanna, Sujata was appointed as the head of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, although she declined the role due to health concerns. Notably, she was included in the Central Committee two years ago. During her tenure as in-charge of the South Bastar Divisional Committee, Sujata is believed to have been involved in over 100 incidents across Bijapur, Sukma and Dantewada districts.

 

She was apprehended while seeking medical treatment in Telangana. With a combined bounty of one crore rupees placed on her by the Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, law enforcement agencies anticipate that Sujata’s arrest will yield crucial information about Naxalite operations in the region. Her extensive experience and knowledge of the movement could provide valuable insights into their strategies, networks, and future plans. Sujata is the wife of the notorious Naxal leader Koteshwar Rao, alias Kishanji, with whom she migrated to Bastar from Bengal in the 1980s. After Kishanji’s assignment to Bengal, Sujata returned to Bastar following his death.

 

She is also credited with training the infamous Naxal commander Madvi Hidma and played a significant role in recruiting women into the banned outfit. Sujata, a steadfast adherent to the Naxalite ideology, continued to be an active force even after the loss of her husband, a rarity among female Naxalites. Her brother-in-law, Sonu, is a member of the Central Committee, underscoring the family’s deep involvement in the movement. Sonu’s wife is also engaged in Naxalite activities. Hailing from the Gaju Mandal’s Penchikalpat village in the Gajulamba Garhwal district of Telangana, Sujata is known by various aliases within the Naxal outfit, including Padma, Kalpana, and Jhansi Bai. An educated woman, she is fluent in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Telugu, as well as local dialects like Gondi and Halbi. Sujata has been identified as the mastermind behind several major Naxalite attacks in Bastar, including the killings of 23 security personnel in Errabor (2007), 76 security personnel in Tadmetla (April 2010), 36 in Gadiras in the year 2010, 31 during the Jhiram attack on Congress’ Parivartan Yatra (2013) besides 25 in Chintagufa, 17 in Minpa and 21 in Tekulgudem in the year 2017.