In Anticipation of PM Modi's Arrival, 50 Maoists Surrender in Chhattisgarh
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Synopsis
In a significant development before PM Modi's visit to Bilaspur, 50 Maoists have surrendered, signaling a victory for the anti-naxal campaign. This act reflects the success of the 'Lon Varratu' initiative, which aims to reintegrate former insurgents into society and foster peace in the region.
Key Takeaways
- 50 Maoists have surrendered in Chhattisgarh.
- Part of the Lon Varratu initiative aimed at reintegration.
- Significant projects worth Rs 33,700 crore to be inaugurated by PM Modi.
- Comprehensive rehabilitation measures for surrendered Maoists.
- Ongoing anti-Maoist operations have seen substantial successes.
Raipur, March 30 (NationPress) In a notable development preceding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, 50 Maoists have abandoned their rebel activities and opted to reintegrate into society. This represents a major victory for the ongoing anti-naxal initiative and the "Lon Varratu (Come Back Home)" campaign launched by both Central and state governments.
This operation contributes a vital chapter to the relentless fight against Maoism in the region. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that the nation will be Naxal-free by the following year.
The timing coincides with Prime Minister Modi's scheduled address to a large public assembly in Bilaspur on Sunday, where he will inaugurate and lay the groundwork for various projects totaling Rs 33,700 crore, encompassing energy, transport, education, and housing sectors.
These individuals, who collectively had a bounty of Rs 68 lakh, formally surrendered at the Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP) office in front of senior officials, including the Deputy Inspector General of Police and members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Many of these Maoists were alleged to be involved in activities like road sabotage, spreading Naxal propaganda through posters and banners, and scouting for their leaders in Bijapur and nearby regions, as per officials.
The Lon Varratu initiative, led by senior police officials and supported by the Chhattisgarh government’s Rehabilitation Policy, aims to reintegrate Maoists into the mainstream by persuading them to forsake violence and exploitation, thus nurturing peace and alleviating the hardships faced by local tribal communities.
This recent surrender follows a similar event on March 29, when 15 Maoists in Dantewada district committed to joining the mainstream. The campaign, widely promoted in villages by the District Police Force and CRPF, has successfully encouraged numerous Maoists, including prominent leaders, to surrender and embrace a peaceful life.
The surrendered individuals will benefit from the comprehensive rehabilitation measures provided by the Chhattisgarh government, including financial support of Rs 25,000, skill development training, agricultural land, and additional support systems.
The newly introduced 'Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy-2025' further enhances these provisions, offering increased compensation, job opportunities, land, and free education for victims of Maoist violence. Surrendered Maoists are also rewarded for weapon surrender and provided with legal support.
Since its initiation, the Lon Varratu campaign has facilitated the surrender of 927 Maoists, including 221 with bounties on their heads, according to officials. This accomplishment highlights the effectiveness of the campaign in promoting regional peace and security while offering a pathway for former insurgents to rebuild their lives and positively contribute to society.
The RFT (Intelligence Branch) Dantewada, along with the 111th, 195th, 230th, and 231st Battalions of the CRPF, played a crucial role in facilitating these surrenders.
Meanwhile, security forces have ramped up anti-Maoist operations in the region. On March 29, seventeen Maoists were neutralized, with 16 bodies recovered during encounters.
On March 25, security forces neutralized three Maoists in a fierce gunfight near the Dantewada-Bijapur border. This encounter, reportedly occurring along the banks of the Indravati River, signifies another substantial victory in the ongoing struggle against extremism. Four days earlier, security forces eliminated 30 Maoists in two separate encounters — 26 near the Dantewada-Bijapur border and four in Kanker.
These operations, however, did not come without sacrifice. A brave soldier from the District Reserve Guard lost his life, while two others, including a deputy superintendent of police, suffered serious injuries. Both injured personnel are now reported to be out of danger.
In a different incident, Maoists detonated an improvised explosive device, targeting a vehicle transporting security personnel. The explosion narrowly missed its target, occurring right after the vehicle passed through the Bijapur district area. Two jawans and the civilian driver sustained minor injuries from the shockwaves.
These operations are a part of a broader initiative to dismantle Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh.
On Friday, March 28, security forces apprehended five Maoists, including two women, in the Geedam police station area of South Bastar Dantewada district. These individuals were allegedly planning to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting security personnel.
In a significant triumph for the security forces, Jagdish alias Budhra — a notorious Maoist operative connected to the deadly Jhiram IED blast — was eliminated early on the morning of March 29 in a major operation along the Sukma-Dantewada border in Chhattisgarh.
Jagdish, long sought after by authorities, was notably involved in the Darbha Valley Jhiram blast of 2013, an atrocity that resulted in the deaths of prominent Chhattisgarh leaders, including Mahendra Karma, Vidya Charan Shukla, and Nand Kumar Patel. This encounter, executed on Saturday morning, was a joint operation by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Upampalli, under the jurisdiction of the Keralapal police station.
During this engagement, 17 Maoists were killed, including 11 women, with Jagdish, a Special Zonal Committee Member of the Maoist organization, being the main target.
Just days earlier, on March 25, security forces had also neutralized three Maoists, including Sudhir alias Sudhakar, who had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh on his head. His elimination is seen by officials as a significant step in dismantling the entrenched leadership of the Maoist movement.
To date, security forces have conducted 11 operations in 2025 alone, neutralizing a total of 142 Maoists thus far. Among these efforts, notable successes include the elimination of 31 Maoists on February 9 and 16 on March 25, with activities spanning districts such as Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Narayanpur.
In the Bastar region alone, 100 Maoists have been neutralized this year, with 49 being eliminated within a short timeframe from March 20 to March 29. These coordinated operations demonstrate the determination of security forces to restrain extremism and restore peace to the area.
