India, Oct. 14 -- Two senior Maoist leaders - Rupesh, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), and Ranita, the head of the Maad Division -- are in touch with senior police and administrative officials in Chhattisgarh in connection with their possible surrender, officials familiar with the development said.

Officials said if their surrender goes through, it would not only help the security forces tactically but also be high on symbolism since Rupesh has operated in the Dandakaranya forests for over two decades

The development comes against the backdrop of a crisis within the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) over its future after a senior politburo member Venugopal aka Sonu declared that the group had decided ...