Chhattisgarh sees mass surrender of 210 Maoists, CM terms it historic

As many as 210 Maoist cadres including one Central Committee member surrendered before authorities in Chhattisgarhs Jagdalpur on Friday making it the largest mass surrender in the history of antiNaxal operations in the state officials saidWith this a total of 238 Naxalites have quit the path of violence and joined the mainstream in the state in the last three days as 28 others had surrendered on WednesdayHailing the development Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said it was a historic day not only for Bastar but for Chhattisgarh and the entire nation 210 hellip pictwittercomoGhfcG63GBmdash Vishnu Deo Sai vishnudsai October 17 2025According to officials Fridays mass surrender the largest in the history of antiNaxal operations in the state marks a decisive turning point in the governments ongoing campaign to eliminate LeftWing ExtremismAll the cadres who surrendered before the police and paramilitary officials in Jagdalpur the headquarters of the Bastar district were formally welcomed into the mainstream by tribal community leaders and priests who greeted them with red roses symbolising love peace and a new beginningThe surrendered cadres senior police and paramilitary officials and tribal community leaders later posed for photographsThe banner behind the stage where cadres posed for photograph read Poona Margem Punarwas se Punarjeevan Maoist cadres rejoining the mainstreamPoona Margem is a rehabilitation initiative launched by Bastar Range police for NaxalitesAddressing a press conference later CM Sai said 210 brothers and sisters who were misguided and detached from society rejoined the mainstream today showing faith in the Constitution the path of nonviolence as shown by Mahatma Gandhi and the states rehabilitation policyThe surrendered cadres include toprung leaders to lowerrung members he said congratulating and wishing them well for their futureThe states Surrender and Rehabilitation policy has multiple provisions including financial assistance land benefits benefits in the new Industrial policy and linking them with employment he addedThe historic event is seen as a result of the central and state governments comprehensive antiNaxal strategy supported by sustained efforts from the police security forces local administration and the active participation of aware and vigilant communities he saidSenior Maoist leaders who surrendered include Rupesh alias Satish a Central Committee member Bhaskar alias Rajman Mandavi Ranita Raju Salam Dhannu Vetti alias Santu all four Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee DKSZC members and Ratan Elam a Regional Committee Member officials saidThe surrendered Maoists handed over 153 weapons including 19 AK47 rifles 17 SelfLoading Rifles 23 INSAS rifles an INSAS LMG light machine gun thirty six 303 rifle four Carbine and 11 Barrel Grenade Launcher BGL a police official saidOn October 2 as many as 103 Naxalites 49 of them carrying a collective bounty of more than Rs 106 crore had surrendered in Bijapur district of Bastar regionUnion Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly underlined the governments resolve to eradicate Naxalism largely concentrated in Chhattisgarhs Bastar region by March 31 2026On Thursday Shah declared two worsthit regions of Chhattisgarh Abujhmarh and North Bastar free from Naxal terror and made it clear that those willing to surrender are welcome but those who continue to wield guns will face the wrath of security forcesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever