In a monumental setback for the banned CPI (Maoist) movement, 208 cadres, including 110 women and senior leader Rupesh, surrendered at a formal ceremony in Jagdalpur, Bastar district, on October 17, 2025. The largest single-day surrender in Chhattisgarh’s history saw the rebels deposit 153 weapons, including 19 AK-47s, 23 INSAS rifles, and 41 single-shot firearms, at the Reserve Police Line, 300 km south of Raipur. The ‘Puna Margem’ event, symbolizing their reintegration into mainstream society, featured a red carpet welcome, with each cadre receiving a copy of the Indian Constitution and a rose.

The mass surrender, originally scheduled to occur before Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, proceeded without his presence due to a last-minute change, though Sai is expected to address a press conference later in Jagdalpur. State officials hailed the event as a triumph of the government’s Naxal eradication policy, crediting sustained efforts in peace, dialogue, and development. “This decisive development reflects the sincere work of police, security forces, local administration, and society,” officials stated, emphasizing the rebels’ choice to embrace a “dignified and harmonious life.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah celebrated the surrender as a milestone, declaring North Bastar and Abujhmad “Naxal-free” and commending the cadres for reaffirming faith in the Indian Constitution. Chief Minister Sai echoed this, calling it a “historical success” in the mission led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah to eradicate Naxalism. The surrendered weapons, including 17 SLR rifles, 11 Barrel Grenade Launchers, and a single INSAS LMG, underscore the scale of the blow to Maoist operations in the Dandakaranya region.

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This landmark event signals a turning point for Bastar, long plagued by Maoist insurgency, as the region pivots toward peace and development. The government’s multifaceted approach, blending security operations with rehabilitation and community engagement, has paved the way for this unprecedented surrender. As Chhattisgarh builds on this momentum, the reintegration of these former rebels marks a hopeful step toward stability and progress in one of India’s most conflict-ridden areas.

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