Gadchiroli: Top Maoist leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Sonu, surrendered before authorities in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district on Tuesday along with around 60 cadres, officials have confirmed.
Sonu was a politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and younger brother of Mallojula Koteswar Rao, alias Kishenji, who died in a police encounter in West Bengal in 2011.
Considered one of the most influential figures in the CPI (Maoist) hierarchy, Sonu laid down arms in the presence of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, officials said.
According to them, Sonu’s decision to abandon armed struggle reflects the growing realisation among senior Maoist leaders that violence has no future and disillusionment with the ideology that “power flows through the barrel of a gun”.
Chhattisgarh’s deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma hailed the development, underscoring a decisive shift in the region.
“The people of Bastar are determined to end Naxalism,” he said, recalling that a female politburo member had surrendered a year ago.
“Her husband’s surrender today shows the changing ground realities. The administration will rehabilitate those who give up violence, but those who continue armed resistance will be dealt with firmly by security forces,” Sharma added.
After Kishenji’s death, Sonu is believed to have taken charge of the CPI (Maoist)’s armed resistance against Operation Green Hunt in West Bengal.
He was considered a key strategist and ideologue within the Maoist hierarchy, operating mostly from deep forest zones across central India, including parts of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Odisha.
Sonu had signalled his willingness to surrender earlier this year, officials said. His decision to surrender was announced through a press statement dated August 15. He is later known to have secured the backing of a sizable number of Maoist cadres across several states.
Officials believe that his surrender opens a window to further consolidate peace in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas and strengthen ongoing outreach and rehabilitation initiatives.
“This is a moment to build trust and ensure that those who return to the mainstream are given a fair opportunity to rebuild their lives,” an official said.
The CPI (Maoist) had recently sent a missive to the government, seeking a month’s ceasefire. This has been rejected outright by the government.
A few days ago, Union home minister Amit Shah had made it clear that there is no reason for any talks between the Naxalites and the government. All that the rebels need to do is lay down their arms and surrender to take advantage of the attractive rehabilitation package offered by the government, he had said.
