Senior PLGA leader lays down arms along with cadres; weapons handed over
A major breakthrough in anti-Maoist operations, Sodi Keshalu, a top commander of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), surrendered along with 40 cadres before Telangana Police on Monday.
Keshalu, also known as Malla, was a key Maoist leader from the Bastar region and served as deputy commander of the PLGA battalion operating along the Telangana–Chhattisgarh border. Police said he was considered second-in-command after senior Maoist leader Badise Deva, who had surrendered earlier.
Senior leaders among those who surrendered
The group included divisional committee members, area committee leaders, and platoon-level cadres, marking a significant blow to Maoist operations in the region.
Security officials said the surrendered cadres handed over multiple weapons, including AK-47 rifles, INSAS rifles, and SLR rifles.
Keshalu, in his late 40s, was known to lead around 20–30 armed cadres in the Karregutta hills and was among the most influential Maoist commanders active in the border region.
Series of surrenders weaken Maoist network
While officials have not officially disclosed the bounty on Keshalu, sources indicate it could be around ₹20 lakh.
The latest surrender is part of a broader trend in Telangana, which has witnessed multiple high-profile Maoist surrenders this year.
Earlier, PLGA Battalion-1 commander Barsa Deva alias Devanna surrendered on January 2. On February 22, senior CPI (Maoist) politburo member Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji also laid down arms after decades in the movement.
Maoist structure in Telangana weakened
In March, over 130 Maoists surrendered in Hyderabad in the presence of Revanth Reddy, handing over more than 120 weapons.
Following these developments, police claimed that the Maoist state committee structure in Telangana has been effectively dismantled.
Officials view the latest surrender as another major step towards restoring peace and weakening insurgent networks in the region.
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