Major setback to Maoists as ideological head surrenders

SIXTY OTHER CADRES ALSO LAY DOWN ARMS

- ANKITA DESHKAR, NIKHILA HENRY & SREENIVAS JANYALA

THE MAOIST MOVEMENT was dealt one of its most severe blows on Tuesday when Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu (70), a member of the CPI (Maoist)'s Politburo as well as its crucial Central Military Commission, surrendered in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli alongside 60 other cadres.

Others who surrendered include two Zonal Committee members, 10 Divisional Committee members, and members of various dalams. Gadchiroli police sources said they handed over 54 weapons.