210 Naxal rebel surrendered in Chhattisgarh
210 naxalites give up arms
Jagdalpur | Correspondent: A total of 210 Naxalites surrendered to the police in Chhattisgarh. This was a step towards peace in the Naxal-affected areas of Bastar, Of these, 140 surrendered in Jagdalpur on Thursday and the remaining earlier in Kanker. The surrendered individuals also handed over a total of 153 weapons to the security forces.
Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai and Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma were present as special guests on the occasion. The Chief Minister stated that all surrendered Naxalites would be provided with housing, land, and financial assistance for three years under the state government's rehabilitation policy, enabling them to return to mainstream society and live a respectable life.
The ceremony was held at the Police Lines premises, where all Naxalites were welcomed with a copy of the Indian Constitution and a rose. The surrendered Naxalites were brought in three buses, with female Naxalites outnumbering male Naxalites.
Central Committee member Satish alias T. Vasudev Rao alias Rupesh was brought to the surrender ceremony in a separate car under special security arrangements. Rupesh was active in the Marwar Division and carried a bounty of ₹1 crore (approximately $1.5 million USD), while other Naxalites carried bounties ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹2.5 million (approximately $1.5 million USD).
Chief Minister Sai said, "Our brothers and sisters have now joined the mainstream of development. A copy of the Constitution was given to them so that they understand and assimilate the democratic system."
He said that change is now clearly visible in Bastar, with roads being built, electricity and rations reaching villages.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma stated that the Government of India has set a goal of completely eradicating Naxalism by March 31, 2026, and expressed confidence that this goal will be achieved within the stipulated timeframe.
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that the entire Marwar Division committee has come forward as part of this surrender, while the Naxalites from Gadchiroli have returned to their area. The Keshkal unit remains.
Clarifying the status of the surrender, he stated that Company 1 and Company 10 have fully surrendered. Similarly, in Company 5, all but one or two members surrendered. The communications team and the zonal doctor team also surrendered completely. He claimed that the North-West Zone is now completely depopulated.
He stated that any former Naxalites who wish will be inducted into the District Reserve Guard (DRG). Currently, 10% of the DRG's members are former Naxalites, with the rest being new recruits.
The Deputy Chief Minister said, "The Naxalites have now realized that society is a greater power than the government. That is why they decided to return to society."
He honored those who surrendered and said that the government will ensure their rehabilitation and provide them with all possible assistance in moving towards a new life.
