CPI (Maoist) Confirms Death of Two Top Leaders Due to COVID-19

With a reward of Rs 40 lakh on his head, Haribhushan was one of the most wanted Maoist leaders.

The Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Thursday confirmed that two of its top leaders died of COVID-19. A day after the police's claim, the CPI (Maoist) issued a statement to the media confirming the death of its Telangana State Committee secretary and the party’s Central Committee member, Yapa Narayana alias Haribhushan and Indravati Area Committee member Siddaboina Sarakka alias Bharatakka. The banned outfit said that both of them had contracted COVID-19. Haribhushan, who also suffered from asthma and bronchitis, died on 21 June while Bharatakka died on 22 June. The Maoist outfit said that their last rites were conducted in the presence of a number of people and a meeting in their memory was held on 22 June.