PEDDAPALLI
Former Maoist leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Abhay, who returned to the mainstream in October last year, visited his hometown Peddapalli on Sunday and evoked feelings of nostalgia among his relatives and childhood friends.
The excitement was palpable among the locals who warmly welcomed Mr. Rao on his arrival in his hometown after more than four decades.
The 69-year-old former top Maoist leader, who spent nearly 44 years underground, surrendered to the Maharashtra police on October 14, 2025.
He was known as a key strategist in the banned CPI (Maoist). He held key positions such as secretary of the banned organization’s central regional office and official spokesman.
He, along with his elder brother, slain Maoist leader Koteshwara Rao alias Kishenji, were known as the ‘Mallojula brothers’ among the Naxal ranks.
According to sources, Mr. Venugopal Rao visited his ailing brother Anjanna’s house 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 plainclothes policemen from Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. He returned to Maharashtra late in the afternoon.
Published – 01 March 2026 20:33 IST
