In a major breakthrough for Telangana Police, senior Maoist leader and member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), Bandi Prakash, surrendered on Tuesday, October 28. A native of Mancherial district, Prakash had been underground since 1987, evading authorities for nearly four decades. He was a prominent figure in the CPI (M) state committee and carried a bounty of ₹20 lakh on his head. His surrender marks a significant success in the state’s ongoing efforts to dismantle Maoist networks operating in the region.

During his time underground, Prakash played a crucial role in mobilizing workers under the Singareni Coal Belt Committee Labour Wing, where he was reportedly in charge. His surrender follows the recent trend of senior Maoist cadres abandoning the armed struggle amid mounting police pressure and waning influence of the movement. Telangana Police officials stated that Prakash’s decision reflects the growing disillusionment among Maoist ranks and the government’s effective rehabilitation policy for surrendered militants.

Earlier this month, three senior Maoist leaders — Kunkati Venkataiah alias Vikas (36 years underground), Mogilicherla Venkatraju alias Raju (35 years), and Thodem Ganga alias Sony (21 years) — had also surrendered to the Telangana Police. With Prakash’s surrender, authorities believe the CPI (M) network in Telangana has suffered another critical setback. The state government has reaffirmed its commitment to bringing remaining extremists back to the mainstream through dialogue, rehabilitation, and development initiatives in affected areas.