In a potentially seismic development for India’s ongoing battle against left-wing extremism, reports indicate that top Maoist Mallojula Venugopal Rao, aka Sonu ‘Dada’, alias Bhupati, has surrendered to security forces along with 60 other members in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.

However, police have yet not make official confirmation.

The incident, which occurred Tuesday, is being touted by sources as the single largest simultaneous surrender in the history of the Maoists movement, dealing a crippling blow to the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist).

According to reports from police sources, the group laid down their arms and surrendered in the dense forests of Gadchiroli district, a longstanding hotbed of Maoist insurgency.

However, official confirmation from Maharashtra Pol

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