NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday hailed the surrender of 50 Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, describing it as a major step towards ending Naxalism in the country. In a post on X, Shah welcomed those who had laid down arms and urged others to abandon violence and integrate into the mainstream.
“It is a matter of great joy that 50 Naxalites in Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) surrendered, abandoning the path of violence. I welcome those who leave violence and weapons and join the mainstream of development,” Shah wrote.
He reiterated the government’s stance, saying, “Modi ji’s policy is clear that any Naxalite who leaves weapons and adopts the path of development will be rehabilitated and connected to the mainstream. I once again appeal to the rest of the people to give up weapons and join the mainstream. After March 31, 2026, Naxalism will become only history in the country, this is our resolution.”
According to police officials, the 50 surrendered Naxalites included 14 with a cumulative reward of Rs 68 lakh on their heads. Among them, six carried rewards of Rs 8 lakh each, three had bounties of Rs 5 lakh, and five others had rewards of Rs 1 lakh each. The surrender was facilitated by the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), CRPF, and its elite CoBRA unit.
Bijapur Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav stated that the surrendered Naxalites cited disillusionment with Maoist ideology and exploitation by senior cadres as reasons for their decision. “They were also influenced by the increasing presence of security forces and government initiatives such as the ‘Niya Nellanar’ scheme, which provides basic amenities in remote areas,” Yadav said. The government has assured that those who surrender will be rehabilitated under the official policy.
The surrender comes just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state. Meanwhile, security forces continue operations against Naxal insurgents. In a major recent encounter, 18 Naxalites, including 11 women, were killed in twin operations in Sukma and Bijapur, marking a significant breakthrough in the ongoing mission to eliminate Naxalism before 2026.
This year alone, 134 Naxalites have been killed in Chhattisgarh, with 118 eliminated in the Bastar region. Additionally, 792 Naxalites have surrendered across the seven districts of Bastar in 2024. Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised security forces for their efforts, expressing confidence that Shah’s vision of a Naxal-free India by 2026 will be realised.