In a decisive moment for regional security, a group of 61 Maoist cadres, among them a highly influential figure known as Bhupati alias Sonu, officially surrendered their weapons. The surrender took place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Gadchiroli, in the direct presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Chief Minister Fadnavis declared this event a turning point, stating, “The spinal cord of Maoism is broken now. The battle against Maoism is in its last stage, and we are optimistic that more cadres will come forward in the days to come.” He also recognized the emerging challenge of ‘urban Naxalism’. In appreciation of their relentless efforts, the Chief Minister announced a substantial award of ₹1 crore for the Gadchiroli Police and commended the dedication of the C60 commandos.
The group of individuals who surrendered included Mallojula Venugopal Rao, also known as Bhupati (aged 70), a prominent central committee member of the CPI (Maoist). Also among them were two State zonal committee members, ten divisional committee members, and numerous other cadres hailing from both Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Together, they handed over a significant arsenal, comprising 54 weapons, notably seven AK47s, six SLRs, and six INSAS rifles. Bhupati’s surrender follows recent similar actions by his family members, with his wife, Tarakka alias Vimala Sidam, a fellow Maoist leader, having previously turned herself in, and his sister-in-law surrendering to the Telangana Police.
Congratulating the Gadchiroli Police on this success, CM Fadnavis detailed the intensive efforts involved. “For a month, our forces were engaged in delicate negotiations and talks, while simultaneously maintaining anti-Maoist operations. Consistent efforts were made to persuade Bhupati to surrender, making it clear that operations would continue regardless. He was ultimately convinced, even publicly acknowledging that Maoism had effectively ended and that surrender was the only viable path forward. We anticipate that this will encourage other cadres in Chhattisgarh to follow suit.”
CM Fadnavis revealed that Bhupati had expressed a specific desire to surrender directly to the Chief Minister. “Even if he had called me to the jungle, I would have gone,” Fadnavis remarked, emphasizing his commitment. “However, this surrender was orchestrated at the Gadchiroli police headquarters. I rescheduled all my engagements to be present immediately, fulfilling the police’s promise that the Chief Minister himself would attend the surrender.”
The Chief Minister attributed this significant step to the growing confidence among Maoist cadres in the government’s commitment to successfully integrating former insurgents back into mainstream society. He cited examples of many surrendered individuals who are now employed in infrastructure projects in Gadchiroli, earning upwards of ₹50,000 per month, as proof of the government’s effective rehabilitation programs.