Top Naxal Leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao Surrenders With 60 Cadres In Gadchiroli

In a significant development, CPI (Maoist) politburo member Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu surrendered to Maharashtra authorities on Tuesday.

Along with 60 of his cadres, in the Gadchiroli district.

The surrender took place near the forested areas of Gadchiroli, where Venugopal and his men laid down arms and presented themselves before the local police.

Authorities confirmed that they received both verbal and written surrender statements from Venugopal.

Rao, aged around 69, had long been considered a key figure within the Maoist hierarchy and was seen as a potential successor to the party’s leadership after the killing of Nambala Keshava Rao (alias Basavaraju) in May 2025.

His decision to surrender underscores a growing fracturing within the organisation.

The Maoist Maad division, which operates in parts of Chhattisgarh and adjoining zones, extended support to Venugopal’s peace appeal. They have backed his call for cadres to renounce armed struggle.

Other divisions, including North Bastar and Gadchiroli, have also joined in endorsing the peace move.

In Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, police figures indicate that only around 24 active armed cadres remain, a drastic reduction from earlier years.

The state’s surrender-and-rehabilitation policy is frequently credited with encouraging militants to give up violence.

Venugopal’s wife, Tarakka, had already surrendered to police in December 2024, joining the fold of ex-Maoists accepting peace overtures.

Security officials see this surrender as a major operational victory. They view Venugopal’s exit as a blow to Maoist morale and command cohesion.

Security agencies view his surrender as a psychological blow to Maoist ranks, likely triggering further desertions.

The event signals a tactical shift within insurgent structures from sustained warfare to survival through negotiation.

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