Telangana Declared Maoist-Free After 42 Cadres Surrender: DGP

In a landmark development in the history of Telangana policing, Director General of Police (DGP) B. Shivadhar Reddy on Friday officially declared that the state has become free of armed Maoist formations , marking an end to decades of Left-wing extremism.

Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, he termed the announcement a “clean sweep” of the Maoist cadre in the state. The declaration follows the surrender of 42 Maoists , led by People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion commander Sodi Malla alias Keshav , before the police. The DGP stated that with this development, the Telangana State Committee has been completely neutralised and no longer exists.

Among the 42 surrendered Maoists, 11 belonged to the Telangana State Committee . They handed over a large cache of sophisticated weapons, including five AK-47 rifles, four SLR rifles, two country-made grenades, over 1,000 rounds of ammunition , and 800 grams of gold . The DGP described the PLGA as the core armed wing of the Maoist party , noting that the surrender of key leaders and cadres along with weapons indicates that the PLGA structure has effectively collapsed . He added that the seized arms were earlier looted from police or CRPF personnel and should rightfully remain with uniformed forces.

Responding to a query, the DGP confirmed that surrendered Maoists would assist in identifying and clearing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) , including landmines and pressure bombs planted in forest areas. He expressed concern that these explosives pose a serious threat not only to security forces but also to civilians, farmers, shepherds, and wildlife , and said their cooperation would help make affected areas bomb-free , ensuring public safety.

According to official data, the number of armed Maoists from Telangana has declined sharply from 125 in 2023 to just five in 2026 . The DGP clarified that these remaining five are currently active outside Telangana, in states such as Chhattisgarh, and include two Central Committee members. He also revealed that former Maoist general secretary Muppala Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapathi is safe but no longer in the forests. Between 2024 and 2026, a total of 761 Maoists have surrendered, which he described as a strategic success for the police.

The DGP attributed the large-scale surrenders to the government’s attractive rehabilitation policy , stating that former Maoists are now leading peaceful lives after joining the mainstream. He noted that surrendered individuals receive financial assistance , enjoy the freedom to reconnect with family, and have the right to speak to the media. Dismissing claims by some leaders that they were arrested rather than surrendered, he said, “If it were an arrest, they would be in jail. Their freedom clearly indicates surrender.”

Responding to demands by some surrendered cadres to lift the ban on the Maoist party, the DGP said it is illogical to seek to continue party activities after leaving it , adding that anyone can carry out public activities within the legal framework . On notices issued by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to certain individuals in Telangana, he clarified that these are part of a central agency’s investigation and not related to the state police. Concluding, he stated that 2026 marks a milestone year for Telangana Police in its anti-Maoist operations, declaring that the state has successfully become free from Naxalism.