After 45 Years, Naxalism Abandoned : Maoist Leaders Bandi Prakash and Pulluri Prasad Rao Surrenders
Naxal leader Bandi Prakash, who had been a part of the Maoist organization for nearly 45 years, surrendered before security forces at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
Two senior Maoist leaders, Bandi Prakash and Pulluri Prasad Rao, surrendered before Telangana police after decades underground, responding to CM Revanth Reddy’s appeal to abandon violence and join the mainstream for peace and development.
Bandi Prakash, a resident of the Mandamari area in Telangana’s Mancherial district, had embraced Maoist ideology during his student years. Between 1982 and 1984, he joined the Naxal organisation through the Radical Students Union during the “Gaon Chalo Andolan.”
Over time, Prakash climbed up the ranks within the Maoist organisation and became an influential member of the “Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC)”, one of the most active wings operating across Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Both states had even placed a 25 lakh rupees bounty on him for his long involvement in the maoist terrorism.
Police officials have described the surrender as a major success, saying it signals the crumbling trust within the Maoist organisation.
While pursuing intermediate in 1979, he came in contact with Daggu Rajalingu, then an organiser of the Radical Students Union (RSU). Rajalingu influenced him with the ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism (MLM), and the CPI (ML).
Subsequently, he joined the Radical Students Union (RSU). Daggu Rajalingu later died in an exchange of fire in 1986, while serving as a Regional Committee Member (RCM).
Pulluri was married to Kursangi Mothibai who's a divisional committee member of CPI in 1989. In June 2013, later she was arrested in Bhadradri Kothagudem district and was released in 2015.
In response to the appeal made by the CM of Telangana, A. Revanath Reddy on 21.10.2025, to the CPI (Maoist), members to come out of the Naxal organisation, join the mainstream and participate in the development and welfare activities of the state. Both the Naxal leaders of the organization Bandi and Pulluri have respectively joined their mainstream life.
Bandi Prakash’ and Pulluri’s surrender is being seen as a significant setback for the Maoist organisation. It marks a symbolic shift, from the terror of the gun to the promise of dialogue and development.
After spending several decades in the underground, both leaders have decided to prioritize their health and family, resolving to lead a peaceful and dignified life ahead.
However, officials say that achieving complete peace in the region will still take time. Meanwhile, security agencies will examine the information, weapons, and network data recovered from him to plan further operations against remaining Naxal terrorists.
