In a significant development for India's fight against Left-Wing Extremism, 84 Maoist cadres carrying cumulative bounties of Rs 2.56 crore have surrendered across three districts of Chhattisgarh, just days after the killing of top Naxalite commander Madvi Hidma.
Wave of Surrenders Across Bastar Region
The surrenders occurred in a coordinated pattern across Sukma, Narayanpur and Bijapur districts between November 25-27, 2025, marking one of the largest collective surrenders in recent years. The latest and largest group of 41 Maoists surrendered in Bijapur on Wednesday, carrying individual rewards totaling Rs 1.19 crore.
These cadres hail from south Bastar, once the stronghold of the formidable Battalion 1 of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). This battalion has been responsible for claiming the lives of at least 155 security personnel in guerrilla warfare over the years.
Changing Patterns in Maoist Surrenders
In a departure from earlier trends, security officials have noted a rare pattern emerging since October 2025 where cadres are increasingly coming out with their weapons. The Bijapur group, however, was not permitted to carry weapons during surrender due to ongoing Maoist activity in the region.
Earlier in the week, 28 Maoists from Abujhmad in Narayanpur surrendered on Tuesday with three significant weapons—an SLR, an INSAS rifle and a .303 rifle. On Monday, 15 Maoists surrendered in Sukma, including four from the notorious Battalion 1, though without weapons.
This year has seen remarkable progress in counter-insurgency operations with 1,460 cadres abandoning the armed struggle and returning 171 graded weapons including AK-47s, SLRs, INSAS rifles and Light Machine Guns.
Security Forces Optimistic About LWE Eradication
Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, expressed strong optimism about the developments. "Notably, in just the last three days, a total of 84 Maoist cadres embraced peace, and the surrender of 41 Maoist cadres in Bijapur on Wednesday clearly demonstrates that the violent and anti-people Maoist ideology is nearing its end," he stated.
The IG emphasized the government's commitment to rehabilitation, saying, "We have consistently demonstrated our commitment to ensuring the safe reintegration of erstwhile Maoist cadres into the social mainstream. We are hopeful that the remaining Maoist cadres—including Politburo members, Central Committee members and all other ranks and files of the Maoist outfit—will come forward without any further delay to join the mainstream and embrace peace."
The surrenders come against the backdrop of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's 2024 deadline of March 2026 for eradicating Left-Wing Extremism from India. Since the announcement, security forces have eliminated over 450 Maoists, including several top leaders.
The death of Madvi Hidma on November 18 in an Andhra Pradesh encounter appears to have triggered this wave of surrenders. Hidma, who had masterminded several deadly attacks over two decades, was considered one of the most wanted Maoist commanders in the country.
