The Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Thursday confirmed that two of its top leaders died of Covid. 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 Central Committee member, Yapa Narayana alias Haribhushan and Indravati Area Committee member Siddaboina Sarakka alias Bharatakka. It said both suffered from Covid-19.

Haribhushan, who also suffered from asthma and bronchitis, died on June 21 while Bharatakka died on June 22. The Maoist outfit said their last rites were conducted in the presence of a number of people and a meeting in their memory was held on June 22. The confirmation came a day after Khammam district Superintendent of Police (SP) Sunil Dutt said that Haribhushan, died of cardiac arrest on June 21. The SP said they had credible information about Haribhushan (50) being sick for the past few days as he was infected with Covid-19.