Gadchiroli, February 26: Former Naxalite Mallejula Venu Gopal Rao, also known as Sonu or Bhupati, shared his life story in an exclusive interview with a news agency on Wednesday.
He explained that after joining the organization, he was given various responsibilities. “I came from Telangana to Maharashtra. I never operated in Chhattisgarh. I fulfilled the responsibilities assigned to me. I have been in Maharashtra all along,” he stated.
Discussing his reasons for surrendering, Bhupati mentioned that mistakes were made within the Naxalite movement. “Our party made errors. We did good work and earned people’s trust, but remaining armed distanced us from them. Now, we need to engage with the people, raise their issues, and work according to the Constitution,” he emphasized.
Bhupati pointed out that the Naxalite issue is a matter for the central government. “The center has been guiding operations for the past 25-30 years. There are various levels of operation commands. States receive guidance from the center, and Maharashtra operates similarly,” he added.
He referred to government schemes, stating, “Maharashtra has single-window schemes, while Chhattisgarh has rehabilitation plans. Different states have different initiatives.”
After his surrender, Bhupati mentioned that he is in the process of obtaining legal identity. “The Aadhaar card process is underway. Some have already received theirs. After that, we can engage with the people,” he said.
While still within the organization, he appealed to cadres to abandon their weapons. “We cannot fight with arms. We have distanced ourselves from the public. We must work under the Constitution. I am conveying the same message after coming out,” he asserted.
He also referenced the recent surrenders of senior leaders like Raj Reddy and Devji, saying, “There are still people in Jharkhand. It would be good for them to come forward. As a member of the Political Bureau, I urge you to come out, stay with the people, and work under the Constitution.”
Bhupati stated that armed struggle is no longer practical in the changing reality. “We cannot remain trapped in dogma. We need to work alongside the people,” he concluded.
It is noteworthy that Bhupati, a member of the CPI (Maoist) Political Bureau and Central Committee, worked within the organization for 43 years. On October 15, 2025, he surrendered along with over 60 cadres, handing over weapons including an AK-47 to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This surrender took place at the Gadchiroli police headquarters, where 54 weapons were deposited, including 7 AK-47s and 9 INSAS rifles. Bhupati had a bounty of 6 crore rupees on his head.
This surrender marks a significant success against Naxalism. While several surrenders occurred in Gadchiroli last year, Bhupati’s is the largest. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a goal for a Naxal-free India by 2026. The Maharashtra government‘s strict actions, development plans, and rehabilitation policies are contributing to the increase in surrenders.
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