Top Maoist Leader Bhupati With Rs 6 Crore Bounty Surrenders in Maharashtra Along With 60 Cadres

A significant achievement has been marked for the Gadchiroli police in their ongoing battle against Maoist insurgency.

Bhupati, one of the most sought-after Maoists with a Rs 6 crore bounty, has surrendered to police authorities in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, accompanied by 60 of his followers.

Known alternatively as Sonu Dada in Maharashtra, Bhupati holds a prominent position as a top Maoist leader and organizer.

At 69 years old, he is regarded as one of the movement's most influential figures. Despite holding a B.Com degree, he has been actively involved in Maoist activities for four decades.

Earlier this year, Bhupati's spouse Tarakka, who served on the Dandakaranya special zonal committee, also surrendered. Bhupati is believed to have orchestrated numerous major attacks across multiple states including Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

Internal sources reveal that Bhupati had recently emphasized within the Maoist organization the necessity to transition toward peace and dialogue, noting diminishing public support for their movement, with anti-Naxal operations resulting in substantial casualties among their ranks.

Authorities have seized over 50 weapons from the surrendered Naxals.

Monday night's surrender represents one of the largest in India's history of Maoist insurgency. Security experts indicate that this development effectively signals the near eradication of Maoism from Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, an area previously plagued by some of the state's most devastating Maoist attacks.

This surrender constitutes a major victory for both the Gadchiroli police and Maharashtra government in addressing Maoist insurgency, which has been one of India's most significant internal security challenges.

In April this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged all underground Maoists to surrender promptly and reintegrate into mainstream society, affirming the government's determination to eliminate Maoism from the country before March 31, 2026.

"I appeal to the hiding Naxalites to lay down their arms as soon as possible and join the mainstream by adopting the surrender policy of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government," wrote Amit Shah on X, while highlighting recent successes against Maoist insurgency in neighboring Chhattisgarh.