Nagpur, a city in central India, has become the focal point of a captivating story that traces the transformation of Ashok Sathya Reddy, a once humble laborer earning a meager ₹9 a day, into a prominent figure within the Naxal movement. Now aged 62, Reddy, who hails from the village of Nirmalagiri in Andhra Pradesh’s Nalgonda district, is a resident of Deori in Maharashtra’s Bhandara district. His journey from laborer to trade unionist to a wanted Maoist leader across four states with a staggering ₹82 lakh reward on his head, culminating in his fourth arrest, highlights the complexity of his life.
Reddy, also known as Murli, was apprehended by the Jabalpur-based Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in a recent operation. His capture has sparked intense interest from Maharashtra’s security and intelligence agencies, who are now poised to interrogate this “prized catch.”
His involvement with the Naxal movement led him to become a key figure in the weapons research and development wing of the Maoists. Despite his tumultuous past, the authorities are eager to glean valuable insights from his extensive experience. With roots in both Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, his knowledge could offer significant revelations about Maoist activities, particularly in regions like Gadchiroli, Gondia, and urban networks across the state.
Murli’s journey has been rife with twists and turns. His first wife, Ranjeeta, was also a part of the Naxal organization, but she eventually distanced herself due to disagreements with senior members. Over the years, Murli’s role within the movement expanded, culminating in his position as a Dandakaranya special zonal committee member based in the Maoist stronghold of Abujhmadh on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.
While the government had charged Murli with numerous offenses in Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, his history has been marked by a series of arrests and acquittals. His involvement in the movement deepened after his initial arrest, and he shifted his focus from a daily wage laborer to a full-time member of the Maoist cause. His contributions included spearheading the movement’s expansion across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.
Despite his arrests, Murli’s influence and involvement endured. After his release from Nagpur jail in 2012, he briefly relocated to Hyderabad before being arrested again the same year. Following his release, he largely withdrew from public view.
As Maharashtra’s authorities prepare to probe Murli’s insights, his journey stands as a testament to the complex nature of extremism and the remarkable transformations individuals can undergo. From earning a mere ₹9 a day to emerging as a key strategist in the Naxal movement, Murli’s life story paints a picture of a man whose experiences have shaped the very fabric of his country’s socio-political landscape.
