Cops hold public meeting in fugitive ultra Ganpathi's village

In a bid to instill confidence in villagers affected by Maoist insurgency in the district and to flush out fugitive naxal leader Muppala Laxman Rao alias Ganpathi, police recently held a public meeting in his native Beerpur.
The initiative is taken by SP Siva Shankar who organised the meeting at the village under Sarangpur revenue mandal, nearly 70 kms from here, where locals from 22 villages participated.
"The main objective behind holding the meeting was to invite Maoist leader Muppala Laxman Rao alias Ganpathi to join the mainstream," an official said.
Police suspect that Ganpathi (60) either masterminded or participated in major attacks in the region over the years.

Ganpathi has been underground for nearly four decades and attempts by police to lay their hands on him came unstuck even as naxals killed many villagers in different incidents across state, including Karimnagar district, by branding them as police informers.
"In order to create confidence in hearts of bereaved families of villagers, the SP has taken the step to conduct interaction programme with them. Police organised a peace rally and also cultural programmes in the village," said the official.