File image of senior Maoist leader Chalapathi with his wife Aruna. Photo: Special Arrangement The killing of Ramachandra Reddy Gari Pratap Reddy, alias Chalapati, has stirred considerable commotion in his native village located in Chittoor district, following his death during an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh. Chalapati was a significant figure in the Maoist movement and served as the Odisha secretary for the group. Rising through the ranks Born and raised in Matyam Paipalle village within the Tavanampally mandal of Chittoor district, Chalapati was educated up to the postgraduate level. He attended institutions in Madanapalle and Tirupati, ultimately joining the Sericulture Department as part of his early career. His professional life took a sudden turn during his time in Visakhapatnam, where he established connections with Maoist factions. Over time, he evolved from a local worker into a prominent and influential leader within the Maoist ranks. Achieving notoriety for his ability to evade law enforcement, Chalapati had previously eluded capture during a well-publicized encounter in the Visakha Agency area. The government eventually had placed a …