By Laxma Reddy

Copyright thehindu

A senior CPI Maoist leader, Manda Ruben alias Kannanna alias Manganna (67), surrendered before Warangal Police Commissioner Sunpreet Singh on Tuesday due to deteriorating health and several other reasons. Ruben, who carries an ₹8 lakh reward on his head, was the senior Division Committee Secretary of South Bastar, as well as a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC).

Disclosing the details to the media, CP Sunpreet Singh said that Ruben, a native of Vangapadu village, Hasanparthy mandal, Hanamkonda district, was drawn towards radical ideology in 1979 while working in the hostel mess of the then Regional Engineering College (REC) (now NIT Warangal) as he was influenced by the slain CPI Maoist General Secretary and former REC student, Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basvaraj.

“Ruben went underground in 1981 and worked as a member of the Kunta-Bastar squad under the command of Lanka Papi Reddy till 1986. He was elevated as Area Committee Member in 1987 and was arrested by Chhattisgarh police at Kothagudem in 1991 and imprisoned for one year in Jagdalpur prison. He escaped along with three others and rejoined Maoist activities,” the CP said. Between 1992 and 1999, Ruben worked in the Kunta and Abujhmarh areas as an Area Committee Member. In 1999, under the direction of Central Committee Member Ravula Sriniva, also known as Ramanna and Gopanna, he married Podium Bhime of Gundraayi village in Bijapur district.

Later, while serving as a Division Committee Member in 2005, he had reportedly wanted to abandon the party due to ill health. But at the advice of the top leaders, he stayed with his family in Gundraayi village and managed poultry and sheep farms for the party besides providing shelter, food and intelligence to Maoist cadres,” the CP said.

“Due to deteriorating health, lack of physical strength to continue underground life, waning ideological relevance of Maoism and increasing public resentment against Maoist violence, Ruben decided to surrender and lead a peaceful life with his family under the Telangana government’s rehabilitation and resettlement programme for the surrendered Maoists,” the CP added.