In a landmark development for Madhya Pradesh's security forces, ten hardcore Maoists from the Kanha-Bhoramdeo (KB) division laid down their arms in Balaghat on Saturday night. The surrender, orchestrated by the elite Special Intelligence Unit (SIU) of the Hawk Force, marks one of the most significant blows to left-wing extremism in the region in recent years.
High-Profile Surrender Under Heavy Security
The group's formal surrender took place at the official bungalow of the Inspector General of the Balaghat Range. The process was initiated after the rebels established first contact through a trusted forest guard. The most notable among those surrendering is Surendar, widely known by his alias Kabir, who served as the Secretary of the Special MMC Zone and carried a hefty bounty of Rs 77 lakh on his head.
Sources revealed that the Maoists initially harbored plans to surrender in neighboring Chhattisgarh due to trust deficits with Madhya Pradesh authorities. However, persistent backchannel negotiations and firm assurances provided by the Hawk Force's SIU convinced them to capitulate in Balaghat. The cadres arrived in two separate batches and submitted to authorities under a blanket of heavy security.
Arsenal and Identities of the Surrendered Cadres
The surrendered Maoists handed over a substantial cache of weapons and explosives, underscoring their operational capacity. The list of those who surrendered and their weapons includes:
- Surendar alias Kabir with an AK-47 rifle and 100 rounds.
- Rakesh Hodi, Kabir's close associate, with an AK-47 and 37 rounds.
- Lalsingh with an INSAS rifle and 40 rounds.
- Shilpa, Naveen, and Jayshila with an SLR rifle and 22 rounds.
- Vikram with a rifle and 7 rounds.
- Zarina with a rifle and 10 rounds.
- Samar with detonators and 5 explosive units.
Police officials have stated that with this development, Mandla district is now effectively considered free of Maoist presence, a major achievement in the long-running anti-Naxal campaign.
Martyrdom Triggered Coordinated Crackdown
The surrender comes on the heels of intensified search and domination operations launched across the tri-junction area of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. These operations were a direct response to the martyrdom of Hawk Force Inspector Ashish Sharma, a 32-year-old decorated officer who was killed in an encounter near Bor Talab earlier last week.
Inspector Sharma, a recipient of two gallantry medals and an out-of-turn promotion, was a respected figure in the force. His death galvanized a coordinated, multi-state offensive involving the Hawk Force, MP Police, Maharashtra commandos, and Chhattisgarh Police. This relentless pressure significantly shrank the operational space for the KB division, leading to the capitulation.
Ceremony and Widening Cracks in Maoist Ranks
The ten cadres are slated to participate in a state-level formal surrender program. In a ceremonial event, they will publicly lay down their arms before Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav in Balaghat. This event will be conducted under the provisions of the state's 2023 Naxal Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy.
This incident is not isolated but points to deepening fissures within the Maoist ranks. It follows the recent surrender of 23-year-old Sunita, a member of the personal guard unit of senior leader CCM Ramder, on October 31. Intelligence inputs from her suggested that several senior leaders in the Maad-Indravati-Darrekasa sector had already deserted, sowing seeds of uncertainty and mistrust among the remaining cadre.
Security forces have now amplified their presence in the forest belts of Lanji, Kirnapur, Baihar, and areas adjoining Gadchiroli and Bijapur. Intelligence officials anticipate more surrenders as operational dominance tightens. The capture of key operatives like Kabir and Hodi signifies a decisive shift in the anti-Naxal grid, potentially ushering in a prolonged period of peace for the Mandla-Balaghat belt, unseen in decades.
