In a landmark development that could signal the beginning of the end for India’s long-standing Naxal insurgency, 208 Naxalites from the Bastar and Maad divisions surrendered to authorities in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur on October 17, 2025.
The surrenders come on the heels of the highly successful Operation Kagar, launched by Chhattisgarh police along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border near Malkangiri.
Continuous operations have resulted in the neutralisation of several high-profile Naxals, including Maoist leader Basavaraju, whose death delivered a severe blow to the organisation’s morale.
Leading the group was Central Committee (CC) member Rupesh, a prominent Maoist figure whose defection is seen as a game-changer. Under his leadership, the rebels deposited their arms and formally renounced the armed struggle.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed the group, emphasising their integration into the mainstream through development schemes. “You are now part of the family’s progress. We will ensure immediate arrangements for your settlement,” Sai stated, highlighting job opportunities, housing, and skill training as key pillars of the rehabilitation package. Many of the surrendering Naxalites hail from farming backgrounds, and they expressed eagerness to return to agriculture, vowing to deposit their weapons permanently with local police stations.
