Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur
Raipur, Oct 26: In a major boost to Chhattisgarh’s anti-Maoist operations, 21 hardcore Maoists, including senior leaders, surrendered before authorities in Antagarh, Kanker district, on Sunday — just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Mann Ki Baat address that Maoism in India is nearing its end.
The surrendered group, which included four Division Vice Committee Members (DVCMs), nine Area Committee Members (ACMs), and eight party members — among them 13 women and 8 men — handed over 18 sophisticated weapons under the state’s ‘Poona Margham’ (Path to Peace) rehabilitation policy.
Among those who surrendered was division committee secretary Mukesh, a key leader of the Keshkal Division (North Sub-Zonal Bureau). Police said the group had been involved in violent activities across the Kuemari and Kiskoda areas and surrendered at Barrebeda village, escorted by a special team.
The surrendered weapons included three AK-47s, four SLRs, two INSAS rifles, six .303 rifles, two single-shot guns, and one Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) — collectively valued at over ?10 lakh on the black market.
Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai hailed the development on social media, calling it a “symbol of hope and transformation.”
“Under the ‘Puna Margem – Rehabilitation to Regeneration’ initiative, Bastar is witnessing a new era of peace and progress. Today’s surrender of 21 Naxalites reaffirms the success of our 2025 Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy and the Niyad Nella Naar Scheme,” the CM wrote on X.
Sai credited the “visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strategic guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah” for the turnaround in Bastar, once considered the heartland of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).
He said the government’s ‘double-engine model’ is committed to making India Naxal-free by March 31, 2026, adding that infrastructure, livelihood, and outreach programmes are transforming the region’s socio-economic landscape.
“This surrender is not just a number — it’s a testament to inclusive governance. Youth once misled by Maoist propaganda are now choosing education, employment, and empowerment,” Sai said.
According to Chhattisgarh Police, Maoist activity has plummeted sharply in 2025, with over 1,200 cadres surrendering since January and more than 900 weapons recovered. Bijapur district alone recorded 410 surrenders by October, while Dantewada saw 71 in September.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently said Naxal-related violence has dropped 40% nationwide, and incidents in Bastar are down 25% year-on-year.
Authorities have begun rehabilitation, medical checks, and vocational training for the surrendered cadres. With over 1,400 Maoists laying down arms since 2023, the Chhattisgarh government says it is on track to achieve a “Naxal-free state” by 2026, driven by peace, development, and reintegration.