After Two Decades, Naxal Leader Gajarla Ashok aka Aitu Surrenders

Aitu is prominent for his ambushes in 2009 in Laheri, during which 17 policemen died.

The Chhattisgarh government had announced a reward of Rs 1 crore before Aitu surrendered. (Photo: PTI)

Gajarla Ashok alias Aitu on Tuesday surrendered before the Chhattisgarh police in Warangal, Telangana. Aitu, a ‘Dandakaranyam Maoist Committee’ member, turned-in before DIG B Malla Reddy, a police official said.

A native of Velishala village in the district, Aitu took inspiration from his brother Gajarla Saaraiah alias Aazaadh and joined the outlawed CPI-ML Maoists in 1991.

Initially, he worked with Thakkallapalli Vasudeva Rao alias Aasanna for Warangal town and then worked in Palakurthi, Bhoopalpally, Ghanpur (Station), he said.

He was also a member of several maoist committees in Telangana. From 2008 till date he was working as Dandakaranya Special Zone Committee member, the officer added. Police said, prima facie health problems could be the reason behind Aithu’s surrender.

Senior journalist and author of Hello Bastar has been tweeting snippets of the naxal leader’s history since the news broke.

(With inputs from PTI.)