In a major development in Chhattisgarh, 29 Naxals have surrendered, including one with a ₹55 lakh bounty, marking a significant win for security forces. The surrenders took place in Dantewada and Narayanpur. All of the Naxals surrendered their weapons to the security forces. Of the 29, 21 surrendered in Dantewada and 8 in Narayanpur. The 13 Naxals who surrendered in Dantewada were carrying a combined reward of ₹25.50 lakh.
The eight Naxals who surrendered in Narayanpur were associated with rewards totaling ₹30 lakh. Notable among the surrendered Naxals are Sukhlal Jurri, Himanshu Midiyam, Kamla Gota, and Raju Podiyam. Those who surrendered were given financial assistance of ₹50,000 and other benefits under the government’s rehabilitation policy.
The high number of surrenders, 29 in Dantewada and Narayanpur, is considered a direct outcome of the ongoing efforts against Naxalism in Chhattisgarh, and development initiatives such as Niyad Nellanar, which have increased the pressure on the Naxals, pushing them to abandon their activities. Government data indicates that more than 390 Naxals, including 99 with rewards, have surrendered in Dantewada in the last 18 months.
This year alone, 148 Naxals have surrendered to security forces in Narayanpur district. The surrendered Naxals are accused of participating in attacks on police teams and other activities such as road-digging, tree-felling, and the display of Naxal banners and posters during Naxal bandh periods.
In Raipur last August, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the country would be free of Naxalism by March 2026. He said significant actions had been taken against Naxalism since the BJP government took power in Chhattisgarh. From December 2023, 2,619 Naxals have been arrested, surrendered or killed. He said that the number of deaths due to Naxal violence had dropped by 70% and that several states are free of Naxal influence.