Gadchiroli, October 14 (Daily Kiran): In a major breakthrough for security forces, Mallojula Venugopal Rao, better known by his aliases Bhupati, Sonu Dada, or Abhay, a top Naxalite leader with multi-crore bounties on his head, has reportedly surrendered along with 60 associates before the Maharashtra Police in Gadchiroli. Police sources have confirmed the development, terming it one of the biggest blows to the Maoist movement in recent years.
Bhupati, a senior Politburo member and strategist of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), was considered one of India’s most wanted insurgent leaders. He carried a ₹1.5 crore reward in Telangana, over ₹1 crore in Chhattisgarh, and additional bounties announced by Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh.
A Major Setback to the Naxal Movement
According to police sources, the 60-year-old leader, who had been active along the Chhattisgarh–Maharashtra border for over two decades, surrendered late on October 13. An official announcement is expected on October 16, when Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to attend a formal surrender ceremony in Gadchiroli.
Bhupati was known to be a key strategist within the Maoist hierarchy and was once considered a possible successor to Basavaraju alias Nambala Keshav Rao, the late General Secretary of the outfit.
Shift Toward Peace and Internal Rift
Recently, Bhupati had issued two letters—one under the name Abhay, the CPI (Maoist) Central Spokesperson, and another personally signed as Sonu—in which he admitted that “picking up arms was a mistake” and sought forgiveness from the public. He wrote that the movement’s original goals—land, forest, and dignity—were lost in armed violence, which only brought suffering to innocent people.
His peace appeal reportedly caused deep divisions within the Maoist leadership, with several senior members labeling him a “traitor” and accusing him of colluding with government forces.
Criminal Cases and Past Activities
Bhupati was accused in several serious cases, including the 2019 Bhima Mandavi assassination, in which BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four policemen were killed in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had been actively pursuing him for years.
Awaiting Official Confirmation
While the Gadchiroli Police have not yet issued an official statement, senior officers confirmed that “high-level discussions and surrender formalities” are underway. If officially confirmed, Bhupati’s surrender could mark a turning point in efforts to bring Maoist cadres back into the mainstream.
Summary
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Name: Mallojula Venugopal Rao (alias Bhupati, Sonu Dada, Abhay)
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Age: 60
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Role: CPI (Maoist) Politburo member and senior strategist
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Reward: Crores across multiple states
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Status: Surrender claimed, official confirmation awaited
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Significance: Major setback for Naxalite movement; signals possible shift toward peace
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
