GADCHIROLI: Signalling the near decimation of the over four-decades-old left-wing terrorism in tribal-dominated Gadchiroli district, a top commander of People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), who fortified the Maoist headquarters of Abujmarh and single-handedly coordinated with guerrilla formations across the Red liberated corridor along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border surrendered at the Gadchiroli police headquarters on Saturday.
Nangsu Tumaretti, alias Giridhar, 44, an ambush and IED specialist, and his wife Lalita alias Sangita Usendi, 35, surrendered before Maharashtra deputy CM and home minister Devendra Fadnavis, marking a defining moment in the war against Naxalism.
The couple, who collectively had around 220 offences against them, carried a Rs 41 lakh reward on their heads (Giridhar Rs 25 lakh and Sangita ₹16 lakh). Sangita alone had around 18 offences against her and controlled Bhamragarh and Etapalli talukas of south Gadchiroli which bordered Chhattisgarh - considered the gateway to Maoist headquarters of Abujmarh.
Gadchiroli located in the heart of central India's Maoists-liberated zone of Dandakaranya is bisected by the Red corridor of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
After joining the rebels in 1996, Giridhar emerged as a PLGA mastermind growing from a platoon member to lead a company. His wife, Sangita, spent 22 years in the movement and was a divisional committee member controlling the Bhamragarh area committee.
Giridhar, who masterminded more than 86 gunfights with security forces in his 28-year stint, headed Company 10 formation which guarded the buffer zone of Abujmarh and PLGA base near the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, particularly the approach routes from Gadchiroli.
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