Chhattisgarh Bastar: 51 Maoists Surrender

In a significant development, 51 Maoists surrendered in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, delivering a major blow to left-wing extremism in the region. The surrendered cadres carried a combined reward of ₹1.61 crore. The surrender took place on Saturday in the presence of Bastar Superintendent of Police Jitender Yadav. The incident gained added significance as it coincided with the visit of President Droupadi Murmu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Raipur for the inauguration of the Bastar Pandum 2026 festival at Jagdalpur, the district headquarters.

According to police officials, 30 Maoists, including 20 women cadres, surrendered in Bijapur district, while another 21 cadres surrendered in Sukma district, including 14 women. Explosive materials such as cordex wires and gelatin sticks were recovered from the surrendered Maoists. Authorities stated that each surrendered cadre is being provided immediate assistance of ₹50,000 under the government’s rehabilitation policy. Officials attributed the large-scale surrender to effective rehabilitation measures and appealed to remaining Maoist cadres to shun violence and join the mainstream, assuring them safety, dignity, and rehabilitation support.