Hyderabad, March 28: The murder of former naxalite leader Sambasivudu alias Konapuri Ilaiah evoked keen interest in Mahabubnagar due to his long association with the district. The naxal leader’s underground life almost started in Mahabubnagar and ended here after a decade.
Sambasivudu hogged the limelight when underground cadres killed Maktal MLA Chittem Narsi Reddy, his son Venkateswar Reddy and nine others on Independence Day in 2005 at Narayanpet. He escaped from the jaws of death 14 times.
Sambasivudu, known for his adventurism and brazenness, was a close confidant of former State secretary of Maoists Madhav.
Inducted into the underground cadres in 1995, Sambasivudu joined the local guerilla squad in Mahabubnagar district in 1996 and rose to the status of commander of Kalvakurthy dalam in 1998.
After a stint as Nallamala commander, he was elevated as district committee member in 2000 and district committee secretary in 2002. He handled the responsibilities of the outfit as head of South Telengana committee and State committee for a brief stint.
Sambasivudu who was largely responsible for the expansion of the outfit in Mahabubnagar led many audacious operations that caused huge casualties in the enemy ranks. His call to politicians to “surrender” to the Maoist movement if they wanted to continue in politics was viewed seriously.
–Agencies