Overview
- In a video issued by Gadchiroli police, Bhupathi calls the armed movement a "failed path" and asks active Maoists to join the mainstream to work among people.
- He shares his and fellow surrenderer Rupesh’s mobile numbers so cadres can contact them to quit the CPI (Maoist).
- Bhupathi accuses the party’s Central Committee of a hardened stance that refuses to abandon violence and rejects claims that defectors are "traitors."
- A founding member of the banned People’s War Group, Bhupathi previously served as CPI (Maoist) Polit Bureau and Central Committee member, regional bureau secretary, and spokesperson.
- His appeal follows his October 14 surrender with 60 cadres who handed over 54 weapons, and Rupesh’s October 17 surrender with over 200 cadres in Jagdalpur, described by officials as Chhattisgarh’s largest mass surrender.