Key Takeaways
- 170 Maoists to surrender in Bastar, marking the largest mass surrender in the region’s history
- Home Minister Amit Shah declares Abujhmarh and North Bastar Naxal-free
- Surrender follows recent Gadchiroli surrender of 62 Maoists including politburo veteran
- Government sets March 31, 2026 deadline to completely eliminate Naxalism
In a historic development for India’s fight against Left-wing extremism, Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region is set to witness the largest mass surrender of Maoists on Friday with 170 guerrillas formally laying down arms. Home Minister Amit Shah called this a “landmark day” in purging the country’s Red Corridor of Naxalite influence.
Major Regions Declared Naxal-Free
Shah announced on social media platform X that “Abujhmarh and North Bastar that were once terror bases have today been declared free from Naxal terror.” He noted that only a trace of Naxalism remains in south Bastar, which security forces will “wipe out soon.”
Surrender Ceremony Details
The surrender ceremony in Jagdalpur will be attended by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and his deputy Vijay Sharma. This event comes just three days after CPI (Maoist) politburo veteran Mallojula Venugopal Rao (aka Bhupathi) surrendered with 61 other guerrillas in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.
Among those converging on Jagdalpur are 78 Maoists who reported to police in Kanker, Sukma and Kondagaon districts late Wednesday. Visuals of armed guerrillas, including women, crossing forested areas to reach designated camps are circulating on social media.
Key Commanders Among Surrendering Cadres
Notable surrenders include Maoist commander Rupesh, who oversaw CPI (Maoist)’s northwest sub-zonal bureau, and Marh division in-charge Ranita. Officials revealed that Rupesh had initially expressed willingness to surrender last April and had been in contact with security agencies since.
Despite recently being elevated to the outfit’s central committee, Rupesh decided to surrender after two decades with the Maoists, during which he played key roles in recruitment, coordination and propaganda.
Government’s Clear Stance
“Naxalism is breathing its last due to the relentless efforts of Modi government,” Shah stated. He outlined the government’s dual approach: “Those who want to surrender are welcome, and those who continue to wield the gun will meet the wrath of forces.”
The Home Minister made a fresh appeal for Maoists to “lay down weapons and join the mainstream,” reaffirming the government’s commitment to uproot Naxalism completely before March 31, 2026.
