Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], November 6 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has said that the ‘backbone of Naxalism is broken’ after 21 Maoist cadres, including 13 women, surrendered in Kanker district.
Describing the development as a major success of the state’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, the Chief Minister stated that the youth who were once misled by Maoist ideology are now turning toward peace and development.
In a post on X, CM Sai wrote, ‘The end of the anti-people Maoist ideology through Puna Margem and the establishment of peace in Bastar — today, in Kanker district, under the Puna Margem: From Rehabilitation to Revival initiative, 21 Naxalites have abandoned the path of violence and surrendered. This is a meaningful testament to the success of our Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy 2025 and the Niyad Nella Nar Scheme, which is fostering a new wave of trust and transformation in Naxal-affected areas.’
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating Naxalism from India, setting a target of March 31, 2026, for achieving this goal.
‘The backbone of Naxalism in the Bastar region has been broken, and Bastar is rapidly moving toward peace and development. Our double-engine government is resolute in making the country Naxal-free by March 31, 2026,’ his post read.
He further assured that the state government would provide full rehabilitation and reintegration support to the surrendered cadres.
‘Youth misled by the false ideology of Maoism are now beginning to understand that the path of development, not guns, is the true choice for the future. We are fully committed to the rehabilitation and revival of these surrendered Naxalites,’ he said.
The Chief Minister credited the progress to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that their guidance has helped the government earn the trust of the people in Bastar, resulting in the weakening of Maoist organisations.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma welcomed the surrender, saying that the Maoists ‘understood the mood’ of the people.
‘People of Bastar want to get rid of red terror, and these people have understood the mood of the people of Bastar. They will be given a red carpet welcome. North Bastar and West Bastar have nearly calmed down. Those who are active in South Bastar, I request them to come back into the mainstream and understand the feelings of the people of Bastar,’ Sharma told ANI.
According to Bastar Inspector General of Police P. Sundarraj, the 21 surrendered cadres belonged to the Kuemari/Kiskodo Area Committee of the Keshkal Division under the North Sub-Zonal Bureau. The group included four Division Committee Members, among them Division Committee Secretary Mukesh, along with nine Area Committee Members and eight regular members.
The cadres also surrendered 18 weapons, including three AK-47 rifles, four Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), two INSAS rifles, six .303 rifles, two single-shot rifles, and one BGL weapon.
IG Sundarraj described the surrender as a ‘decisive step’ in the state’s fight against Left Wing Extremism (LWE).
‘Another decisive step was achieved today in Kanker District as 21 more cadres voluntarily returned to the mainstream. This is a significant milestone in our efforts to curb left-wing extremist influence, build community trust, and promote peace and development in Bastar,’ he said.
He added that the rehabilitation and reintegration process for the surrendered cadres is already underway.
‘The rehabilitation and reintegration process for these 21 cadres is underway, reaffirming our commitment to a safer, inclusive, and progressive society. We once again urge the remaining Maoist cadres in the region to choose the path of peace and return to society, or be prepared to face the consequences,’ IG Sundarraj said.
This surrender follows a major development last month when 208 Naxalites laid down their arms in Jagdalpur, Bastar, on October 17, marking one of the largest surrenders in Chhattisgarh’s anti-LWE campaign. The event, attended by senior officials, saw the Naxalites publicly pledge allegiance to the Indian Constitution as they were welcomed back into the mainstream.
The twin developments — first the mass surrender in October and now the one in Kanker — underscore the growing success of Chhattisgarh’s rehabilitation and peace-building initiatives in traditionally Maoist-affected districts.
(ANI)