Gadchiroli, Oct 15 (NationPress) Mallojula Venugopal Rao (69), who is also referred to as Bhupati or Sonu, and serves as the spokesperson for the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) and a member of its Central Committee, along with 60 others, surrendered on Wednesday in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. A reward of Rs 25 lakh had been placed on Rao's head by the Karimnagar Police back in 2014.

The total bounty for Rao and his associates amounted to approximately Rs 6 crore prior to their surrender.

According to law enforcement sources, all 61 Maoists have now opted to join the mainstream of development as of Thursday. CM Fadnavis presented a copy of the Constitution to the surrendered Maoists.

Rao and the other cadres turned themselves in to the police in Gadchiroli district on Tuesday, with reports indicating they surrendered late Monday night.

Recently, Rao's wife, Tarakka, also known as Vimala Seedam, who was part of the Maoist Zonal Committee, surrendered to law enforcement. In recent months, there has been a consistent trend of Maoists surrendering in Gadchiroli district.

Rao's surrender has brought the spotlight back to Peddapalli, his hometown, more than a decade after the demise of his brother Mallojula Koteshwar Rao, known as Kishanji, who was killed in an encounter in West Bengal in 2011.

His family expressed joy over his decision to reintegrate into society. However, his mother, Madhuramma, who waited a long time for his return, passed away in 2022. He had risen to the position of chief of the Maoist Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee and was responsible for expanding guerrilla activities from Goa to Idukki in Kerala.

Following the death of Cherukuri Raj Kumar (Azad), Venugopal was designated as the official spokesperson for the Maoist party. He is believed to be one of the key planners behind the April 2010 Dantewada attack in Chhattisgarh, which resulted in the deaths of at least 76 CRPF personnel.

Mallojula Dileep, the son of Venugopal Rao's brother Anjaneyulu, commented on the family's happiness over his uncle's decision. He stated, "He remained distant from us for a long time, devoted to his ideology. My grandmother Madhuramma waited for years for his return but sadly passed away in 2022. His surrender is a profoundly emotional moment for our family," Dileep shared with reporters in Peddapalli.

The surrender of Rao and his associates occurs at a time when the Maoist movement is experiencing a decline due to relentless operations by both central and state forces, leading to the deaths of numerous senior Maoist figures this year. Police sources have indicated that the surrender of 61 Maoists represents a significant victory for security forces and a considerable step toward diminishing Maoist influence, aligning with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that Naxalism (Left Wing Extremism) will be entirely eradicated by 2026.

Previously, CM Fadnavis noted that over the last four years, no youth or girls from the region had joined the movement, attributing this progress to the efforts of C-60 commandos and growing trust in constitutional governance.

He reaffirmed the government's dedication to development and peace, expressing optimism about transforming Gadchiroli into a 'Steel City', thereby ensuring a brighter future for the area.