Two senior Maoist leaders surrender before Telangana DGP

Two senior CPI (Maoist) leaders, Chandranna and Prabhath, surrendered before Telangana DGP Shivadhar Reddy, ending over four decades underground. The State Police said 427 Maoists have surrendered in 2025 under the government’s rehabilitation policy

Hyderabad: Two senior leaders of CPI (Maoist) party surrendered before Telangana DGP B Shivadhar Reddy in the presence of other police officials on Tuesday.

Pulluri Prasad Rao alias Chandranna (64) who was underground for 45 years, and Bandi Prakash alias Prabhath (55), who was underground for 42 years, joined the mainstream.

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Chandranna, a native of Peddapalli district, joined the Maoist party in 1980 and served in various positions and was a central committee member for more than 17 years. “In view of my health condition, I have come out and joined the mainstream. I will continue my struggle within the framework of the Constitution,” Chandranna told mediapersons.

Prabhath, a native of Mancherial district, joined the Radical Youth League (RYL) in 1983 after completing seventh standard. The following year, he joined the Sirpur armed Dalam and continued his association with the Maoist group until his surrender.

DGP Shivadhar Reddy said so far, 427 underground cadres of various ranks including two central committee members and eight State committee members had surrendered before the Telangana Police in 2025 alone. He said 64 cadres of Telangana nativity were working with the CPI (Maoist) party, and added that of the nine central committee members of the outfit, five were natives of Telangana.

The DGP handed over a demand draft of Rs 25 lakh to Chandranna and Rs 20 lakh to Prabhath as both carried the rewards on them. “As per the surrender policy of the State government, the rewards announced on them were handed over to the individuals,” he added.