Former Maoist leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao visits his native Peddapalli in Telangana after more than four decades

PEDDAPALLI

Former Maoist leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Abhay, who returned to the mainstream in October last year, visited his native Peddapalli town on Sunday, evoking feelings of nostalgia among his relatives and childhood friends.

The excitement was palpable among local residents, who received Mr. Rao warmly on his arrival in his native town after a gap of more than four decades.

The 69-year-old former top-ranking Maoist leader, who had spent nearly 44 years underground, surrendered before the Maharashtra police on October 14, 2025.

He was known as a key strategist in the banned CPI (Maoist). He held crucial posts such as the secretary of the outlawed organisation’s Central Regional Bureau and official spokesperson.

He, along with his elder brother, slain Maoist leader Koteshwara Rao alias Kishenji, were known as ‘Mallojula brothers’ among the naxal ranks.

According to sources, Mr. Venugopal Rao visited the house of his ailing brother Anjanna and met some of his close relatives and childhood friends during his brief visit to Peddapalli on Sunday.

Sources added that he was accompanied by around half-a-dozen police personnel in plainclothes from Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. He returned to Maharashtra late in the afternoon.