In a significant development in the Bastar region, 30 Naxals surrendered in Bijapur district on Wednesday and were rehabilitated under the Chhattisgarh government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy, officials confirmed.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said the mass surrender reflects the combined impact of the state’s rehabilitation initiatives, intensified security operations, and ongoing development projects in the region.
“In Bijapur, 30 Naxalites have been rehabilitated. This is one of the largest numbers so far. It is the result of the state government’s rehabilitation policy, the bravery of security personnel, and the development works being carried out. We appeal to more Naxalites to shun violence, join the mainstream, and improve their lives,” Sharma told ANI.
Earlier this month, on August 17, four Naxals surrendered in Gariaband district. Inspector General of Raipur Range Amresh Mishra had termed it an unprecedented success, noting that the cadres, who had been active for nearly a decade and carried a collective bounty of ₹19 lakh, were eager to leave the path of violence but had been held captive by their organisation. The surrendered cadres were felicitated by the police.
Despite these breakthroughs, security challenges persist. On Monday, one jawan was killed and two others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by Naxals in Bijapur’s National Park area during an anti-Maoist operation.
IG Bastar P Sundarraj confirmed that the blast occurred while a District Reserve Guard (DRG) team was carrying out combing operations in the area.
