First time in 5 decades, top cop sets foot in Telangana region that was once Maoist bastion

For the first time in five decades, a top police official visited Karregutta, a region in Telangana that was once a stronghold of the Maoist Communist Party. Speaking at the site on Monday, Telangana Director General of Police CV Anand expressed his intention to transform the area into a tourist destination. "The road to the forest will soon be tarred," Anand told reporters, indicating that the previously makeshift path would be upgraded for easier access.

Anand also highlighted the benefits of tourism for former Maoist members who had surrendered and were seeking a fresh start. "The bounty offered for their surrender is given to them," he explained. Accompanied by a large police and revenue delegation, Anand emphasized the safety of visiting Karregutta. In the past, only specialized anti-Maoist forces would venture into the region, but now, the broader police force is involved as well.

Since the beginning of Operation Kagar in March 2026, several key Maoist leaders were either killed, arrested, or surrendered. By the end of the year, all Central Committee members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) had either taken such action or handed themselves over. The Merit Home Ministry had set a goal of achieving a Naxal-free India by the end of the year, and Operation Kagar was launched to achieve this.

Anand noted that only a few top Maoists remain at large, with Muppala Laxaman Rao, also known as Ganapati, being the most prominent. Anand appealed to him to surrender and integrate into mainstream society. Muppala Laxaman Rao was the longest-serving General Secretary of the banned Maoist outfit, and his successor, Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraju, was killed in a police encounter in May 2025.

Following Basavaraju’s death, the Maoist party fractured into two factions, one led by Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Sonu, and the other by Thippiri Tirupathi, alias Devuji. While Sonu surrendered in Maharashtra, Devuji and others surrendered in Telangana.