Chhattisgarh sees major blow to maoists: 41 surrender, key camps destroyed, LWE footprint shrinks

By: Team India Tracker

In recent years, however, the Indian government’s comprehensive counter-LWE approach, blending intensified security operations with developmental initiatives and community outreach has delivered measurable success.

In Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, 41 Naxalites, 32 of whom had a combined bounty of ₹1.19 crore turned themselves in before senior police officers on Wednesday, according to officials. The group, which included 12 women, was influenced by the state's revised surrender and rehabilitation policy as well as the Bastar police's "Poona Margham" initiative, a program designed to assist former Maoists in reintegrating into society, according to Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav.

A wide range of Maoist organisational structures are represented among the surrendered cadres. Four members of the PLGA's elite battalion no. 1 and units connected to different companies, three members of area committees, eleven people connected to platoons and area committees, two PLGA operatives, four commanders of militia platoons, a deputy commander, six members of militia platoons, and several members of frontal organisations of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) were among them. Of the 41, 39 were active in the south sub-zonal bureau and affiliated with the Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada divisions, the Telangana State Committee, and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.

According to officials, they have all vowed to rebuild their lives within the democratic framework and expressed faith in the Indian Constitution.  Each cadre who turned themselves in was given an instant incentive of ₹50,000 as part of the state's rehabilitation package. A number of people with large bounties are listed among those who surrendered their weapons.  A reward of ₹8 lakh was offered to Pandru Hapka alias Mohan (37), Bandi Hapka (35), Lakkhu Korsa (37), Badru Punem (35), Sukhram Hemla (27), Manjula Hemla (25), Mangali Madvi alias Shanti (29), Jairam Kadiyam (28), and Pando Madkam alias Chandni (35).  Furthermore, eight cadres had bounties of ₹1 lakh, twelve carried ₹2 lakh each, and three cadres had rewards of ₹5 lakh.

According to SP Yadav, the state’s rehabilitation framework and community-oriented initiatives have played a significant role in encouraging Maoists to give up arms.  Assuring them of safety and a life of dignity, he called on other active members to come forward and give up violence.  Maoists ought to abandon their violent and deceptive beliefs.  The Poona Margham drive guarantees a secure, honourable, and self-reliant future to those who surrender,” he said. Since January 2024, 790 Maoist cadres have left the insurgency in the Bijapur district alone, according to the most recent surrenders.  Security forces have arrested 1,031 people and killed 202 Naxalites in encounters during that time.

Over 2,200 Naxalites, including a number of senior officials, have turned themselves in in Chhattisgarh over the past 23 months, according to statewide statistics. This indicates a steady decline in the insurgent movement and a slow transition to the mainstream.

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

In recent years, however, the Indian government’s comprehensive counter-LWE approach, blending intensified security operations with developmental initiatives and community outreach has delivered measurable success. Maoist influence has been significantly curbed, violence levels have dropped sharply, and several previously affected districts are now on a path toward reintegration and progress.

The central government has set an ambitious goal of eradicating Naxalism entirely by March 31, 2026. Officials view the insurgency as a major impediment to development, particularly in tribal and remote areas, where it hampers access to essential services like education, healthcare, roads, banking, and postal facilities.
In a major push toward the Modi government’s goal of eliminating Naxalism, the list of districts most severely impacted by Left Wing Extremism has been reduced from six to three. At present, only Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh remain in the category of most-affected districts. The number of districts classified as LWE-affected has also seen a significant drop from 18 to just 11, indicating a continued decline in extremist influence across the country.

While speaking at the valedictory session of Bharat Manthan 2025, Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation said that between 2014 and 2024, nearly 12,000 kilometers of roads were built in states affected by Left-Wing Extremism, with funding sanctioned for an additional 17,500 roads. During this period, 5,000 mobile towers were also installed at a cost of ₹6,300 crore. Infrastructure and service expansion has continued with the opening of 1,060 bank branches, installation of 937 ATMs, appointment of 37,850 banking correspondents, establishment of 5,899 post offices, creation of 850 schools, and setting up of 186 modern health centers.

He further highlighted that under the Niyad Nellanar initiative, the Chhattisgarh government is facilitating the approval of Ayushman Bharat health cards, Aadhaar IDs, voter cards, and the construction of schools, ration shops, and Anganwadi centers.

The minister also detailed the scale of Naxalite infrastructure dismantled in recent operations. Naxalites had built a major base at Karregutaa Hills on the Telangana–Chhattisgarh border, stocked with weapons, a two-year supply of rations, and facilities for producing weapons and IEDs, an area considered extremely difficult to reach. On May 23, 2025, this base was eliminated during Operation Black Forest, resulting in the death of 27 hardened Naxalites. An additional 24 hardcore cadres were killed in Bijapur. According to the Home Minister, this operation significantly weakened the remaining Naxalite network in Chhattisgarh.

He added that among the Naxalites neutralized in 2024 were one Zonal Committee member, five Sub-Zonal Committee members, two State Committee members, 31 Divisional Committee members, and 59 Area Committee members.