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Gadchiroli: In a significant breakthrough for security forces, politburo member of CPI [Maoist] Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Sonu, alias Bhupati surrendered in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Gadchiroli on October 15.
The surrender took place at police headquarters of Gadchiroli where Rao along with 60 other hardcore Maoist cadres laid down weapons, marking a major moment in the ongoing battle against red terror in Central India.
#WATCH | Gadchiroli, Maharashtra: Naxal Commander Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupati, surrenders in front of CM Devendra Fadnavis at the Gadchiroli Police Police Headquarters. Around 60 Naxalites surrendered today.
Naxal Commander Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupati gave a… pic.twitter.com/stBiJWEJvd
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2025
Bhupati, a resident of Peddapali village of Telangana was one among the 4 senior most Maoist leaders and in most wanted list of police of multiple states.
As per the details, the 69-year-old Maoist commander was associated with the Maoists armed-insurgency for over four decades and masterminded numerous major attacks against security forces.
He was wanted by police in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and carrying an overall reward of Rs 6 crores as announced by the state governments.
The Maoist leader before his surrender had earlier issued multiple letters hinting about laying down arms.
On abandoning armed-insurgency, Bhupati said that we [Naxals] decided to laid down weapons amidst the ongoing mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Bhupati before his surrender was said to be hiding in the forests of Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmad region along the Maharashtra border. His surrender comes almost a week after Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a public rally said that those holding guns should come forward and lay down weapons.
“We have formulated a very lucrative surrender policy. Come lay down your arms. If you take up arms and try to disrupt the peace of Bastar, our armed forces the CRPF, and the Chhattisgarh police will respond,” said Union Home Minister Shah at a public rally in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur on October 4.
State governments working in close co-ordinations in fight against Naxals
Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that today marks an important day for Gadchiroli district, as the process of eliminating Maoism from the region has begun.
“Today is an important day for Gadchiroli district. The process of eliminating Maoism from Gadchiroli began today. Gadchiroli district has been battling Maoism for over 40 years. Chandrapur, Bhandara, and Gondia were also initially affected by Maoism. Chhattisgarh and Telangana, bordering Maharashtra, were also plagued by Naxalism. Development was devoid of development. Young people were misled by the system,” said Fadnavis.
The CM on the occasion also highlighted about a group started by Bhupati in Gadchiroli district. “Sonu alias Bhupati’s surrender is significant because 40 years ago, a new group, the Aheri Sironcha, was started in Gadchiroli. Bhupati was the one who initiated it, providing intellectual support and logistics, added CM Fadnavis.
#WATCH | Gadchiroli | Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, " We all, be it Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh or Telangana, are united in the fight against naxalism. We work in coordination with each other…" pic.twitter.com/1gwtzjseiV
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2025
He noted that the state governments are working in close co-ordination and united in the fight against Naxalism. The CM asserted that rehabilitation work done for the Maoists who have surrendered is encouraging the others to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.
27 Maoists surrender before police in Sukma
In a related development, 27 Maoists including 10 female cadres have surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district. The surrendered Maoists include of two hardcore cadres from the PLGA battalion no 1.
Those who joined the mainstream were all inspired by the Niyad Nellanar scheme [A state run initiative to provide benefits of government’s welfare schemes to residents of Maoist-hit region] of the government. They were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 50 lakhs on their heads.
It is worth noting that here that Union Government has announced a deadline to eliminate the Maoist-insurgency by March 2026. 18 districts in the country remained affected by Naxal activities as of now, according to a release by the Union Government.
