Surrender or Face Wrath of Forces, Shah Warns Naxals
Home Minister Amit Shah hails mass surrenders as a major success against Left-Wing Extremism, says Naxalism is “breathing its last” under PM Modi’s leadership.
New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday declared two of Chhattisgarh’s worst-hit regions free from Naxal terror and said those willing to surrender are welcome, while those who continue to bear arms will face the full force of security agencies.
Shah announced that 170 Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh on Thursday, a day after 27 had laid down arms in the state and 61 others surrendered in Maharashtra. He said a total of 258 battle-hardened left-wing extremists renounced violence over the last two days.
“It is a matter of immense pleasure that Abujhmarh and North Bastar in Chhattisgarh, once terror bases, have today been declared free from Naxal terror. Now only a trace of Naxalism exists in South Bastar, which will be wiped out soon by our security forces,” he wrote on X.
Shah described the day as a landmark in the fight against Naxalism and applauded those who renounced violence and placed their trust in the Constitution of India. He said the government’s policy is clear: surrendering cadres will be welcomed and rehabilitated, while those who continue to wield guns will face the wrath of security forces. He appealed to remaining cadres to lay down their weapons and join the mainstream, reiterating the government’s goal to uproot Naxalism by 31 March 2026.
Since January 2024, after the BJP government assumed power in Chhattisgarh, Shah said 2,100 Naxalites have surrendered, 1,785 have been arrested, and 477 have been neutralised. “These numbers reflect our fierce resolve to decimate Naxalism before March 31, 2026,” he added.
The surrendered group included 10 senior operatives, among them Satish alias T. Vasudeo Rao (Central Committee member), Ranita (Maad DVC secretary), Bhaskar, Nila alias Nande (secretary of Nelnar), and Deepak Palo. T. Vasudeo Rao reportedly carried a reward of Rs 1 crore. Operatives of SZCM rank had rewards of Rs 25 lakh, DVCMs Rs 10–15 lakh, and ACMs Rs 5 lakh. The surrender also included a large haul of automatic weapons, reportedly including AK-47s, INSAS rifles, SLRs and .303 rifles.
