The attack on the MLAs was reportedly masterminded by Zonal Military Commission of AOBSZC (Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee) Chalapathi.
He hails from Chittoor district and had joined the movement about 25 to 27 years ago. He is a voracious reader, respected for his intellectual abilities and is a master military strategist. He reports directly to second in command of the Maoist hierarchy Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavraj, who heads the Central Military Commission, the ultimate assault wing of the CPI (Maoist). Chalapathi has strong ideological background and was spotted a few days ago in the AOB. He also handles the Srikakkulam–Koraput division and is the husband of Venkata Ravi Chaitanya alias Aruna, who allegedly led the assault on Sunday. Not much is known about Aruna but she is also said to be educated and hails from Pendurthi area in Visakhapatnam. After Chalapathi married Aruna, the Maoist Central Committee was irked and demoted Chalapathi after a warning. The other key leaders in the assault team who were identified by the police were Jalamuri Sreenu Babu alias Rhino from Addateegala of East Godavari and Kameswari alias Swaroopa from Bhimavaram in West Godavari.
Though Chalapathi and Aruna were in the thick of things, the final plan and approval was by Akkiraju Haragopal alias Ramakrishna alias RK. RK is a key member of the Central Committee and is in-charge of AOBSZC and has been assigned the task of reviving the movement in AOB after the Maoists suffered a huge setback in the Ramaguda exchange of fire .