88 Naxal cadres surrender in Maharashtra & Chhattisgarh

In Maharashtra, 61 Senior Naxal Cadres surrendered before Gadchiroli Police and in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday. The Polit Bureau Member of the Central Naxal Committee, Mallujola Venugopal Rao alias Bhupati, has surrendered along with other 60 senior Naxal Cadres at a programme held in Gadchiroli.  All these 61 Naxals were carrying a collective bounty of 6 crore rupees. The cadres include senior ranks like divisional committee members, area committee and dalam members. Naxalities have laid down their weapon and CM Devendra Fadnavis presented a copy of the Indian Constitution as a token of welcoming these surrendered naxals into the mainstream.
Speaking on the occasion, Fadnais said that this is the biggest surrender in the history of the Naxalite movement in Maharashtra so far.He assured that the state government will improve the standard of living of these surrendered naxals through a good job and rehabilitation package.  He also mentioned that due to continuous surrender of such senior cadres the North Gadchiroli already has become naxal-free and there are a handful of active members remaining. Fadnavis also announced a reward of Rupees 1 crore for the Gadchiroli Police.

ऐतिहासिक!

Surrender of Maoist Commander Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu Bhupati carrying a ₹6 crore bounty along with 60 other senior Maoists at Gadchiroli in presence of CM Devendra Fadnavis.
MLA Dr Milind Narote, Maharashtra DGP, and other senior police officers and… pic.twitter.com/DIqyiV7Zyo

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) October 15, 2025

Rao, considered one of the top leaders of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), laid down arms on Tuesday and expressed readiness for formal peace talks with the government. He requested a one-month ceasefire window to consult with party cadres across multiple states and jails. Rao clarified that the surrender was made in response to a peace appeal issued earlier this year by CPI (Maoist) Chief Secretary Basavraju, who was later killed in a security operation in May. “We are not abandoning that call. Despite the losses, we have chosen the path of peace,” Rao said. He further appealed to the Centre to suspend security operations in Maoist zones for one month to enable internal consultations. “We are ready to hold discussions via video conferencing if required. Leftist organisations and sympathisers may also send their views, which we will consider,” he said.

Meanwhile, 27 Naxalites, 16 of them carrying a collective bounty of Rs 50 lakh, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Wednesday, a senior police official said. The development comes a day after senior Naxalite Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi and 60 other cadres laid down their arms in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district.