In a significant breakthrough in Chhattisgarh’s ongoing “anti-Naxal” campaign, 21 Maoists active in North Bastar surrendered to the police on Wednesday, handing over 18 weapons.
The surrender ceremony, held at Junglewar College, featured a symbolic red-carpet welcome, reflecting the state’s renewed focus on rehabilitation and reintegration rather than confrontation.
Bastar Inspector General of Police Sundarraj personally welcomed the surrendered cadres into the mainstream, presenting each of them with a copy of the Constitution, a gesture aimed at reaffirming their place within a democratic society.
IGP Sundarraj said, “Today, in the northern sub-divisional area of Kanker district, including the Utter Bastar region and Keskel division, a total of 21 Naxalites surrendered. They included 13 female and eight male Naxalites, along with 18 weapons, including AK-47s, INSAS, SLRs, and other firearms. We and various sections of society welcome them; we again appeal to all remaining Maoist cadres to come back to the mainstream and join the development activities. We will give them protection according to policy, but if they do not lay down weapons, they will have to face the forces.”
The latest development is part of a wider policy shift introduced this month, under which the state police have prioritised surrenders over armed encounters.
The move sends a clear message that those who renounce violence will be accepted into the mainstream, while those who persist will face decisive action.
Earlier this month, 208 Maoists had surrendered in Jagdalpur, bringing with them 109 weapons.
Wednesday’s surrender in Kanker district involved members of two area committees laying down arms simultaneously, signalling a further weakening of the insurgents’ influence across the region.
Also Read : Yogi slams RJD candidate Osama over family’s criminal past
IGP Sundarraj also noted a sharp decline in the Maoist leadership structure. “There was a time when the Politburo and Central Committee had 45 members. By early 2025, that number had dropped to 18. Now, only six to seven remain, hiding in the forests of South Bastar,” he said.
He urged those still in hiding to surrender while there is time, warning that security forces, including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), are fully prepared to neutralise any remaining threats.
The surrender of these 21 Maoists represents not only a tactical achievement but also a symbolic milestone in the long struggle against left-wing extremism.
Officials say the move reflects growing disillusionment within the Maoist ranks and a rising willingness among cadres to return to civilian life.
They believe that sustained operational pressure, combined with compassionate outreach, is gradually dismantling the ideological and organisational foundation of the movement.
As the campaign continues, the administration has reiterated its commitment to balancing firmness with empathy, offering a path to peace for those ready to abandon violence.
The red carpet laid out for the surrendered Maoists serves as more than a ceremonial gesture. It stands as a message of reconciliation and a hopeful signpost towards a future where governance replaces guns in the Bastar heartland.
Follow us
