Maoist leader Bhupathi surrenders in Andhra Pradesh

28 August, 2012

East divisional area committee Secretary of the Maoists, Pothuru Raja Rao alias Bhupathi, surrendered before the police at Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh due to ill health.

THE EAST divisional area committee Secretary Pothuru Raja Rao, who was instrumental in kidnapping the then Malakangiri Collector Vineel Krisha last year, surrendered before the police at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh due to ill health.

Pothuru Raja Rao was involved in a number of criminal cases including attack on various police stations and exchange of fire on several occasions. Addressing a press conference at Visakhapatnam on Monday, Visakhapatnam Range DIG Swathi Lakra said that Bhupathi surrendered before police on Sunday.

Bhupathi carried a cash reward of Rs. 3,00000/- on his head. Earlier, he was arrested in 1997 and was in jail. After obtaining bail, he again joined the movement. The DIG said that the Government would provide rehabilitation including a cash reward of Rs. 3,00,000, and a house site or an agricultural land would be allotted for him, Bhupati told newsman at Visakhapatnam.

He was fed up with the movement and decided to lead a peaceful life. He had also informed, earlier, the Maoist East Divisional Secretary Ganesh about his surrender but there was no proper response from him, he said. Bhupathi also opposed the killing of forest ranger M Madhava Rao. He said he was against Bauxite mining as it would have bad impact on the livelihood of tribals. Bhupathi is a native of Gondipali in GK Vedi mandal of Visakhapatnam.