Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) [India], November 17 (HBTV): Bastar Range Inspector General of Police P. Sundarraj has said that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in Chhattisgarh is in its final stages, with security forces tightening their hold and a record number of cadres laying down arms to join the mainstream.
He said security forces continue to track the remaining cadres. ‘Their days are numbered. They have only one option: either surrender or face the same action as other cadres,’ IG Sundarraj told ANI in Jagdalpur.
Emphasising the impact of the state’s rehabilitation policy, Sundarraj, a 2003-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, said: ‘Chhattisgarh's rehabilitation policy is very effective. Due to this, in the last 20 months, more than 2,200 Naxals have joined the mainstream. These surrendered Naxals are provided skill development training to help them integrate into society after rehabilitation.’
He noted that security operations now focus on the three most sensitive districts — Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur — considered the last strongholds of the Maoists.
‘In other parts of the Bastar region, the entire cadre strength has been taken care of, meaning they have either joined the mainstream or legal action has been taken against them. The Naxal network in other parts of Bastar has been dealt with. Security forces are on the task, and we are hopeful that in Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur, we will be able to totally eradicate LWE,’ he said.
Referring to recent operational gains, he said more than 450 Naxal bodies had been recovered in the last two seasons, and over 200 Naxals had surrendered recently. ‘Their logistical supply system has been badly affected, and the network is demolished. We are hopeful that very soon, no Maoists will be left in the country,’ he said.
He reaffirmed the state's target of making Chhattisgarh Naxal-free by March 31, 2026, calling the past few years ‘decisive’ for the security forces. He highlighted the neutralisation of several top Maoist leaders, including Basavaraju, as well as a series of surrenders witnessed last month.
Under Sundarraj’s leadership, the Bastar region has seen a major drop in Naxal violence, with dismantled Maoist networks and increased development activity marking a significant shift in the decades-long insurgency. Once regarded as the epicentre of Left Wing Extremism, the region — including Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, and Kanker — has witnessed a marked decline in Maoist influence.
Under the guidance of the Central government and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Chhattisgarh has pursued a strategy that combines security expansion with development. Several new security camps have been established deep inside former Maoist strongholds to expand access to welfare schemes and improve safety.
Rehabilitation programmes now include structured daily routines for surrendered cadres, involving sports, classes, and vocational training under the Rajya Kaushal Vikash Pradhikaran. Training spans from driving courses to plumbing, alongside cultural activities, movie screenings, and counselling sessions.
Officials say this combination of security pressure, infrastructure development, and livelihood opportunities has significantly weakened the insurgent base, positioning Chhattisgarh to eliminate Left Wing Extremism within the next year.
Over 300 Naxalites surrendered last month alone, marking a major step in restoring peace in the Dandakaranya region. This surrender freed most of Abujhmad from Maoist influence, ending decades of insurgent activity in North Bastar.
The surrendered group includes over 100 women from various ranks of the CPI (Maoist). Among them are one Central Committee Member (CCM), four Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee members, one Regional Committee Member, 21 Divisional Committee Members, 61 Area Committee Members, 98 Party Members, and 22 PLGA/RPC or other cadres. They surrendered 153 weapons, including 19 AK-47 rifles, 17 SLR rifles, 23 INSAS rifles, one INSAS LMG, 36 .303 rifles, four carbines, 11 BGL launchers, 41 single-shot or twelve-bore guns, and one pistol.
Sundarraj described the surrender as a major milestone, calling it evidence of the effectiveness of the government’s Naxal Eradication and Rehabilitation Policy 2025, which focuses on development, dialogue, and confidence-building to bring extremists back into the mainstream.
Top Maoist leaders who surrendered include Rupesh alias Satish (CCM), Bhaskar alias Rajman Mandavi (DKSZC member), Ranita (DKSZC member), Raju Salam (DKSZC member), Dhannu Vetti alias Santu (DKSZC member), and Ratan Elam (Regional Committee Member). Ten additional senior operatives also surrendered, including commander Satish alias T. Vasudeo Rao (CCM), who carried a reward of INR 1 crore. Others had bounties ranging from INR 5 lakh to INR 25 lakh.
The wave of surrenders marks one of the biggest setbacks to Maoist insurgency in recent years and strengthens the government's efforts to restore peace and development in affected regions.
In line with the Modi government's goal of a Naxal-free Bharat, the number of districts most affected by LWE has now reduced from six to three — Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The number of LWE-affected districts overall has fallen from 18 to 11.
Security forces have recorded what officials describe as ‘unprecedented operational successes’, killing 312 Naxals this year, including the CPI (Maoist) General Secretary and eight other Central Committee or Politburo members. A total of 836 cadres have been arrested, while 1,639 have surrendered, including one Politburo and one Central Committee member.
Once seen as India’s biggest internal security threat in 2010, Naxalism is now in visible retreat. In 2013, 126 districts across various states had reported Naxal-related violence.