Top Maoist leader Sambasivudu surrenders

Ill-health and a desire to lead a normal life motivated him to surrender, Andhra Pradesh's top Maoist leader Konapuri Ilaiah alias Sambasivudu said here on Monday.
      
"My health has failed. Secondly, I wanted to lead a normal life. I wanted to live with my family. So I decided to surrender," he said at a press conference where he was produced in the presence of home minister K Jana Reddy.
      
Sambasivudu also known as Praveen, who was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, said he surrendered before Special Intelligence Branch deputy inspector general of Police B Shivdhar Reddy on Sunday.
      
However, he refused to comment on a number of queries about the CPI (Maoist) and its present status. "Since I have quit, I don't want to comment on the party," he said.
      
Replying to a query, Sambasivudu said he was secretary of the CPI (Maoist) state committee since September, 2006 to the end of 2007.
      
Sambasivudu was believed to be a key strategist of the Maoists and the mastermind behind the October 2003 attack on then chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Tirupati.

Sambasivudu was also allegedly involved in the killing of Congress MLA C Narsi Reddy in Mahabubnagar district on August 15, 2005.
 
Earlier, the home minister said the Maoist leader was being produced before the media to ensure transparency in the surrender process.
 
Further steps and probe in the surrender of the leader would be taken as per law, he said.