The Encounter of Tupakullaguddam

It was March 11. It was the fifth day into the meetings of the Khammam District Committee of the CPI (ML)(PW) and of the North Telengana Eastern Command of the PGA. The location was in a picturesque forest, surrounded on three sides by small hills — one hour’s walk from the village Tupakullaguddam of Eturnagaram Mandal on the Warangal - Karimnagar border. To the north of the camp, 5 Km away, flowed the Godavari. A stream wound its way through the centre of the camp, providing fresh water to its occupants.

It was 4.00 pm. The two meetings were in session. Discussions and study were serious. But, the serenity was suddenly disturbed as a shot was heard in the distance. Within a minute swarms of police seized the hills from the sentry posts and descended onto the camp from three sides. In a commando-style operation, wearing bulletproof jackets, the advance party fired with AKs, LMGs and grenade launchers. Their focus was towards the centre of the camp, where kitchen work was in process. There was a shower of bullets from automatic weapons and large numbers of grenades raining onto the camp from all directions. While 3 batches (of 30 each) of the greyhounds, launched the frontal attack, 3 more remained behind them to ambush the retreating guerrillas, in two concentric circles. The PGA guerrillas retaliated heroically.

Local journalists who visited the site described it as a war zone. It was, in fact, a military-style operation, conducted by the JOC (Joint Operational Command) involving 700 to 800 special forces (trained in counter-insurgency) taken from, not only Warangal, Karimnagar and Hyderabad, but also from Chattisgarh and Mahrashtra (whose borders were barely 4 to 5 hours walk from the camp site). Based on information gathered through their informer network and detailed planning over 3 to 4 days, the entire operation was coordinated by DGP, Ramulu, based in Warangal. They hoped through this operation to murder not only the DC-level leadership but also many top leaders. The newspapers, fed on police reports, speculated wildly of the presence at the camp, of not only NT Special Zonal Committee members, but also a number of Central Committee members. But they failed miserably, due to heroic resistance put up by the guerrilla fighters of the PGA, and killing a most notorious sup-inspector of police, Sanjeev. But, in the process, the cream of the leadership of Platoon 1 and a number of Platoon 3 were martyred.

Sub-Inspector Sanjeev was a police officer with a notorious reputation. When the PW formed its first platoon in 1996, the government formed a special platoon to finish it off — he was made its commander. When the PW platoon was in the Bhoopallapalli area (Karimnagar), he was the first SI at Bhoopallapalli and had knowledge of the terrain — he made open statements saying he will smash the PW platoon. He would harass the Lambadi tribals who sell liquor, to become police informers and would utilise their women for his sexual pursuits.

He was then promoted to Station SI of the Special Police and was always in the forefront in any major attack. He was soon to be promoted as C.I. (Circle Inspector), but was shot and injured during the Tupakallaguddam attack. He died on his way to hospital. Ironically, his wife gave a statement, accusing the police of neglect and delay in getting him treated.

Immediately after the operation top police officials — DGP Ramulu, Intelligence I.G. Shiv Shankar, Greyhounds I.G. Umesh Kumar and SIB-DIG Tripathi — visited the site by helicopter.

At 4.00 pm, march 11, the battle of Tupakullanguddam began. One police batch attacked its very centre, firing a large number of grenades and a fusillade of bullets. Com. Devendra (PL1 Section Commander), of the defence team had begun to advance towards the police firing profusely. Madhu, together with Coms. Benjamin (Section deputy of PL3), Bharati (LGS Commander) and Sammakka (PL1 member) fired form the cover of the nullah. Com. Benjamin, without any thought of retreat, continued firing into the police and was the first martyr.

Devendra allowing the others to retreat asked them to go under the cover of his fire. He finished one magazine and loaded another and was martyred within a few minutes.

The defence of the headquarters was led by the chief of the Eastern Command, Com. Azad, assisted by Command member, Com. Prabhakar (K). With the police batch barely 20 metres away on the hill there was furious firing.

Another police batch attacked directly the PL1 location. PL1 commander (total), Com. Prabhakar, taking cover, fired on them, and challanged the police to come forward. The police were now at close range, and it was probably a bullet from Prabhakar’s gun that hit S.I. Sanjeev. The police took cover and then let out a fusillade of automatic fire with their AKs. Com. Prabhakar and section commander, Com. Swarna, fell. Com. Rajita, who was hit in the shoulders, was later shot dead in cold blood. Even in a full-fledged war between countries certain norms apply, and those injured are taken as prisoners-of-war and treated according to international conventions. But, for the notorious A.P. police, there are no norms, and their cruelty unimaginable. Com. Indra, a teenager who had just a week earlier begun moving with the squad (and not even a member), was also not spared by the venomous canines of the greyhounds.

Already 6 martyred. But this was not all. The second concentric layer of police encirclement was waiting like wolves to ambush the retreating comrades. And besides this, roughly 500 police were stationed in all villages in a 10 Km. radius from the camp for about a week, expecting mop-up operations through heavy combing of the forests.

With comrades Devendra and Benjamin martyred, Com. Madhu’s group comprised the 3, plus com. Anjanna plus a mother and her 12-year old son, both unarmed. As the six retreated up the hill, they were ambushed by a police batch at close range. Madhu emptied the second magazine of his AK. But he was shot in the thigh and com. Anjanna was martyred. The remaining five made their getaway, including Madhu, who, though injured, successfully led the others out. After walking 20 minutes, they saw yet another ambush party, but successfully avoided them and went deep into the forests. With blood dripping from his wound, Madhu could even hear the police dogs in the distance.

As the leadership comrades and others with the headquarter’s group retreated up the hill, they were suddenly ambushed by a police batch. There was intense firing. Led by Com. Azad the group made good their escape, without any loss. But, Com. Gajendra was not so fortunate, his body was found at a distance of 2 Kms. from the site.

With police swarming the entire forest region around the camp, and their informer network in full gear, two comrades, unrelated to the camp, were martyred on the very next days. Comrades Venella and Pramilla of the Madhevpur LGS had just returned from hospital and were taking rest in a village, about 4 hours walk from the camp site. They were unarmed and in civil dress. On a tip-off by an informer, they were arrested, brutally tortured and killed in cold blood. With such brutalities on unarmed young women comrades continuing, the TDP’s continuous refrain about talks looks increasingly ridiculous. In addition, a few days prior to the attack, com. Kavita (who is also Madhu’s wife) who had gone for treatment, has ‘disappeared’ after an informer in a village gave out the information.

But, the retreating comrades were saved further losses only due to the widespread support of the masses. Not only were the Chattigarh and Mahrashtra borders sealed, but all villages in the vicinity had one to two batches of police, from where combing operations were conducted. In this they utilised the services of the ex-commander of the Eturuagaram LGS who had surrendered only one month earlier. Having been the commander of the region for over two years upto Jan 2002, he was well acquainted with all the water spots and other details of the region.

As Madhu’s group of 5 — three women comrades and a child — walked on, Madhu fell unconscious, due to blood loss. But, he recovered, and the bleeding also stopped. In this situation the mother and son showed extreme courage. The little boy said to Madhu "don’t worry, we will take care of you, if necessary we will carry you." But, Madhu revived. As they approached a village after another hours walk, they could hear the police and their dogs. So, they turned back into the forest. After two hours travel they reached another village, but here too there were two other police batches. So, they turned back and slept in the forest. The next day, using a stick, Madhu and the others walked. They walked for hours in the scorching Sun. Finally, by about 4.00 pm they reached a strong village, where also a police batch was stationed.

The villagers here, after hearing of the encounter, were on the look - out for comrades to render assistance. The mother and son went and informed the villagers. Immediately, they swung into action. Keeping the information restricted to a few, they formed two batches of 6 to 7 villagers — one kept close observation on police movements, the other took food (mutton, chicken and the best they could gather) to the remaining three comrades in the forest. Using ingenious camouflage they brought Madhu to the village under the very nose of the police. He was bathed and his wound dressed and treated by a doctor from a neighbouring village. Fortunately, the bullet that pierced his thigh and came out from the other side, missing the bone. The villagers insisted that all comrades stay in the village, guaranteeing their safety, but the comrades decided to stay in the forest, with the villagers doing sentry. It was they who gave the information of the martyrdom of the other comrades. They cried inconsolably - all who died were members (past or present) of PL1, of which Madhu was the platoon party secretary. The mother said amidst tears "why did I not die instead, while the young should have lived on to fight." For three days the villagers took care of the comrades, and brought them in touch with the LGS and then the main batch of the camp.

Similar stories were recounted by the various groups of the 70-odd remaining comrades, who got scattered by the police firing. In spite of massive police operations, the use of a betrayer and a nest of informers, they were unable to apprehend a single comrade. Not only did the villagers provide food and give details of police presence, but also gave courage to the PGA comrades to fight on. In fact, after a few days, having gathered together the DCM and Command meetings continued. When all re-gathered a memorial meeting was held on March 20, in memory of the fallen comrades.

80 guerrillas of the PGA stood solemnly in three rows as comrade Azad called the gathering to attention. Com. Madhu hoisted the red flag to the singing of the International. He tried to speak about the departed comrades, but was unable to - weeping uncontrollably.

Those departed comprised: Comrade Prabhakar, PL1’s charismatic commander and dare-devil fighter, with a reputation for taking the police head-on on numerous occasions; comrade Devendra, PL1’s section commander and doctor of the platoon — a daring fighter and a caring doctor — a model communist guerrilla; Com. Swarna, another section commander of PL1, of 13 years standing and consistency under the most trying conditions; comrade Benjamin, a section deputy commander of PL3 (till recently in PL1) - the quiet, unassuming comrade, who was a terror to the police for his earlier daring actions; com. Rajita, the young, yet highly respected tribal leader of her village and member of PL1; Com. Anjanna, a section deputy of PL3, who comes from the same village that produced Kista Goud and Boomaihia (naxalites, hanged during the emergency); Com. Gajendra, whose family has a history of supporting the Party since 1980; and the little Indra, who had just been introduced to squad life a fortnight earlier.

Others in the gathering were also weeping. Wiping away a tear com. Azad once again called the gathering to attention, and with guns turned down, all stood in two minutes silence paying homage to the departed martyrs. Then slogans of ‘Amar Rahe’ cut the air in Telugu and Hindi. Soon after, the memorial meeting began.

Meanwhile, as the bodies were taken by their parents, reports came in of people’s spontaneous sympathy. The entire village (large) of Gandhinagar (next to Govindraopeth of Eturuagaram) observed a spontaneous bandh on the day of Benjamin’s funeral. 3000 people came for Devendra’s funeral in Tadvai Mandal town (Eturuagaram). A martyr’s wife sang a song, and speeches were given.