Officials in Gadchiroli, one of the districts worst affected by Maoist violence for a long time, said the surrender of nine soldiers from Chhattisgarh was significant as they played a major role in the operation across the two states. Verification will precede rehabilitation benefits, including financial assistance and skills training. The Center has reclassified Gadchiroli and Gondia in Maharashtra from Maoist-affected areas to the “heritage and promotion” category – the final stage before full normalization.
Officials say a coordinated strategy that combines sustained security operations and incentives weakens insurgent morale and encourages surrender.
Odisha police said the CPI(Maoist) has collapsed in the state and there are no new recruits. Nine districts where Maoist presence was reported have now been cleared, leaving only a small area in Kandhamal with limited activity. The military remains on alert to prevent a resurgence of the epidemic.
Only 2 regions are still marked as affected by LWE
So far, only Bijapur in Chhattisgarh and Sishimbhum in Jharkhand are still classified as Maoist-affected areas in the country. At least 35 insurgents surrendered in five districts of Bastar on Tuesday, including 25 in Bijapur, five in Dantewada, two each in Sukma and Kanker and one in Narayanpur, as security forces stepped up pressure on the Maoist network. Nine more Maoists crossed the Indravati river from the forests of Chhattisgarh and entered Gachiroli in Maharashtra and surrendered carrying weapons and explosives.Security forces found 93 weapons, over 7 kg of gold and Rs 29 crore in cash from the Maoist dumpster in Bijapur alone, with a total value of over Rs 14 crore. In Dantewada, five cadres associated with the Dandakaranya Special Zone Committee surrendered. Police said that based on information they provided, 40 weapons were seized, including SLR rifles and INSAS rifles. SP Gaurav Rai said the surrender of “the last five active Maoists” has made the area free of Naxalites.
29 Naxalite cadres surrender in 3 districts of Chhattisgarh
Bijapur police reported that 25 cadres, including members of the district committee, had surrendered and weapons including AK-47 were confiscated. In Sukma, two women surrendered with a reward of Rs 800,000 each. The troops seized Rs 10 lakh in cash and rifles. SP Kiran Chavan said the Maoist network in the area has been “almost dismantled”.Kanker saw two surrenders armed with AK-47 rifles. SP Nikhil Rakhecha said that 11 cadres have returned to the mainstream in six days, but around 14 Maoists, including district panchayat level members Chander and Rupi, are still active.Around nine lower-level cadres are believed to be active in the Kandhamal forest. “They may be neutralized or arrested,” added Sanjeeb Panda, ADG (anti-Naxal operations).