Chhattisgarh: Govt To Set Deadline For Maoist Surrender
Security forces in ‘hot pursuit’ of 5 surviving top ultras: Reports
RAIPUR: The security brass here is toying with the idea of setting a deadline for Naxals to surrender ahead of the target period of March 31, 2026 fixed for ending Maoism, a senior officer of Chhattisgarh home department disclosed to this newspaper on Saturday.
With the deadline to end Naxalism approaching fast, the security establishment here has launched a psychological warfare to force the ‘remaining’ Maoist leadership to buckle under pressure and renounce violence, the officer said, requesting not to be quoted, ‘since it is a sensitive issue’.
However, a section of security brass is wondering if it would be logical to set a deadline for surrender of Naxals and will such a move serve the purpose, sources said.
“It is anticipated that Maoists in hordes may come forward to surrender in April next year since almost all the top Maoists are expected to be neutralized by March 31, 2026. Hence, the logic over setting a deadline for Naxal surrender is being debated”, the officer said.
When contacted, Bastar range inspector general of police Sunderraj Pattlingam, said, “Any decision regarding the declaration of a closure for the surrender and rehabilitation policy rests solely with the government”.
He however hastened to add that the ‘existing (Naxal surrender and rehabilitation) policy represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Moist cadres- an opportunity that may not remain available indefinitely’.
“The window might close soon: Choose rehabilitation before it is too late: Appeals Bastar police”, he exhorted the Maoists.
The police officer said the government is firm on Leftwing extremism eradication by March 2026.
Meanwhile intelligence sources disclosed to this newspaper that security forces are in ‘hot pursuit’ of surviving five top Maoists to completely defang the banned CPI (Maoist).
The top Maoists currently under strict vigilance of security forces for neutralization are Thippri Tirupati alias Devji, general secretary of CPI (Maoist) and politburo member, Mupalla Laxman Rao alias Ganpathi, politburo and consultant of Central Committee (CC) of Maoist, Misir Besra alias Bhaskar, politburo member and CC member, Anal Da alias Toofan, CC member and secretary, Bihar-Jharkhand special area committee, and Mallarajji Reddy alias Sagar, CC member and current in-charge of Odisha state committee of Maoists.
As many as 11 top Maoists including CPI (Maoist) general secretary Basavaraju were killed in separate encounters with security forces and five top Naxals including Venu Gopal, politburo member, surrendered in the current year so far.
