Ex-Maoist leader urges peace over conflict

India Dec 04, 2025

Mallojula Venugopal Rao, once a top Maoist leader with a ₹1 crore bounty on his head, has called for an end to the Maoist armed struggle in India.
After surrendering in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district in October 2025, he's now pushing for peaceful solutions instead of armed struggle.

From rebel to advocate for change

Rao joined the Maoist movement back in 1980 and was a key figure alongside senior leaders.
Over time, he felt the group wasn't adapting to India's changing realities.
Now, he's encouraging former comrades to lay down arms and join mainstream society, saying that they need to learn from past mistakes and correct them, as it's the only way forward.