Top Naxal leader Daya killed in Sunday’s encounter

Yadadri-Bhongir: One of the top naxal leaders Chamala Krishnaiah alias Daya, a native of Dasireddygudem village of Valigonda mandal in the district, was among the CPI (Maoist) Naxalites who were killed in the encounter on Andhra-Odisha border on Sunday night. He was the younger son of Chamala Ramaiah and Chandramma. Krishnaiah was reportedly a central committee member of the party.

Attracted towards Naxalite movement while studying in SLNS College at Bhongir, Krishnaiah joined Radical Students Union (RSU) in 1990. While working as leader of RSU, he had succeeded in persuading gangster Nayeem, who was his college mate, towards the Naxal ideology.

He had also played role in recruiting late Konapuri Sambashivudu and Konapuri Ramulu, who belongs to his native village, in the party. The slain Naxalite has worked in Alair and Krishnapatte dalams of erstwhile CPI (ML-Peoples’ War), which later emerged as CPI (Maoist) party.

While working in the dalams, he had played a key role in recruitment of youth and students. The slain gangster Nayeem and late TRS leader Konapuri Sambashivudu also worked under him at one point of time. In 2008, Krishnaiah escaped with bullet injuries during an encounter on Andhra-Odisha border. However, the Sunday’s encounter has put an end to his Naxal life.

As only six persons of 18 killed Maoists were identified, there was also unconfirmed information that Mandugula Bhaskar, a native of Chityal in Nalgonda district, was also among the killed. However, the police are yet to conform it. Sources in the police claimed that there were no details available about Mandugula Bhaskar in the records and his movement was also not noticed in the district.