MUMBAI: In a major step against left-wing extremism, 139 Maoist fighters surrendered their weapons over two days in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. This reflects the government’s strong push to end Naxal violence, with a target to fully eliminate armed Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

The surrenders began on Tuesday at a function at the police headquarters in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. A top Maoist leader, Mallojula Venugopal Rao, also known as Bhupathi or Sonu, surrendered along with 60 others. He carried a reward of Rs 6 crore. They handed over 54 weapons, including AK-47 rifles and INSAS guns.

Addressing the gathering, Fadnavis called it a “huge moment in India’s history.” He said it marks the beginning of the end for Naxalism in the state. He presented the surrendered fighters with copies of the Indian Constitution, stating they now see it as the true path to justice. Fadnavis described the surrender as a “significant milestone in the country’s history” and expressed confidence that the entire “red corridor” in Chhattisgarh and Telangana would soon be Maoist-free. 

While he praised the security forces, Fadnavis, however, cautioned that the security forces must remain “very alert for the next two years” to counter possible retaliatory attacks. 

On Wednesday, 78 more Maoists surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Kanker districts. This included 27 in Sukma with a total bounty of Rs 50 lakh and 50 from the challenging Abujhmad forest area. Many were men and women active for years.

The government is supporting these former fighters through rehabilitation programs. A company, Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd., will train and employ some in Gadchiroli. This year, over 1,600 Maoists have surrendered across India, and 312 have been neutralised in operations.

Home Minister Amit Shah’s goal is a “Naxal-free India” by 2026. He hailed the historic milestone in a post on X from the Office of the Home Minister of India, stating, “Historic milestone in eliminating Naxalism. Today, the number of most-affected districts has reduced from 6 to just 3, and the number of affected districts has decreased from 18 to 11. Under Modi Ji’s vision for a terror-free India, tireless counter-insurgency operations and people-centric development are shrinking the space of left-wing extremists, leaving no place for them to hide.” 

He also declared in the post, “By March 31, 2026, India will be free from the menace of Naxalism.”