In a major development that could reshape the fight against left-wing extremism in Maharashtra, 61 Maoists, led by the group’s most senior commander Mallojula Venugopal Rao, popularly known as Bhupathi, surrendered to Gadchiroli police on Tuesday. Ending a 35-year-long chapter marked by violence and armed conflict, Bhupathi and his followers stepped out of the shadows to embrace a new path of rehabilitation and peace.
Bhupathi, aged 69, served as the central military chief and political spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), which mobilised Maoist operations across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. With a bounty close to ₹6 crore on his head, he was a key strategist and leader in the Maoist hierarchy. His surrender follows months of dialogue, during which he urged a ceasefire, highlighting the toll the insurgency had taken on tribal communities.
Alongside Bhupathi, 60 cadres surrendered 54 weapons, including AK-47s and INSAS rifles, delivering a significant blow to the Maoist movement’s operational capacity in the region. Experts attribute this historic surrender to declining public support, internal divisions within the Maoist ranks, and attractive rehabilitation packages offered by the government.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised the surrender, calling it a “victory for peace and progress” and reiterated the government’s commitment to providing support and opportunities for reintegration. For the former insurgents and local communities alike, this development marks a historic step toward a more peaceful future.
Authorities have hailed the surrender as a powerful triumph that reinstates the effectiveness of dialogue and rehabilitation policies in undermining insurgency. A formal ceremony is planned to welcome Bhupathi and his group into mainstream society, symbolising hope for lasting peace and development in Gadchiroli and adjoining areas.
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