The October 14 surrender of CPI(Maoist) Central Committee leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupati alias Sonu came amid differences within the embattled organisation over leadership and the way forward. Police said it was a letter, sent to them by a surrendered Maoist, Asin Rajaram Kumar alias Anil, that played a key role in persuading Bhupati and 60 cadres to lay down arms and join the mainstream .

In his letter addressed to Bhupati, Asin, 37, wrote, “Dear Comrade, I know you have immense love and compassion for the people and your comrades. You are fundamentally a sensitive litterateur, not a guerrilla, for whom the people have always been important. You, too, do not desire bloodshed.”

Asin and his wife Anju Sulya Jale (28) alias Sonia — both of whom surrendered in 2024 — s

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