HYDERABAD: Modem Balakrishna, a veteran Maoist strategist accused in several high-profile assassinations—including the killings of IPS officer K.S. Vyas (1993) and former Andhra Pradesh home minister A. Madhav Reddy (2000)—was killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh, ending a four-decade-long militant career.
A native of Warangal, Balakrishna slipped into underground life as a student in Hyderabad, joining CPI-ML (People’s War) under the influence of radical student leaders. His first arrest came in 1984, but repeated stints in prison only strengthened his resolve. After his release in 2000, he quickly rose through Maoist ranks, heading the Andhra–Odisha border zonal committee before becoming chief of the Odisha state committee and a member of the central committee.
Police dossiers list his involvement in multiple attacks, including the 2001 Rampachodavaram CRPF ambush that killed five personnel. He was charged under TADA, the Explosives Act, and multiple murder cases.
Despite chronic illnesses, Balakrishna remained a key strategist. In 2017, he participated in a central committee meeting in Narayanpur alongside top Maoist leaders, underscoring his influence until his death.
