In two days, 258 Maoists surrender under Centre’s outreach push: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that 258 Maoists surrendered in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra over the last two days, marking a major success in the Centre’s anti-Naxal campaign. He said the government would welcome those who surrender but would act firmly against those who continue violence.

Shah announced that the government remains committed to eradicating Naxalism by March 31, 2026. “Those who surrender will find a place in the mainstream. Those who choose the gun will face the full force of security operations,” he said.

According to Shah, two of Chhattisgarh’s most affected regions have now become free from Maoist terror. On Thursday alone, 170 Maoists surrendered in the state, a day after 27 others had done the same. In Maharashtra, 61 Maoists laid down arms earlier this week. He said the growing number of surrenders reflects the rebels’ loss of faith in violence and their increasing trust in India’s democratic system.

“The Modi government’s development-driven approach has weakened Naxalism at its roots,” Shah wrote on X. “These surrenders prove that those once misled by extremist ideology now see hope in the Constitution.”

He also credited coordinated operations between central and state forces for the recent breakthroughs. Security forces have intensified action in the dense forest zones of Bastar, Gadchiroli, and neighboring areas, traditionally strongholds of Left-wing extremism.

Officials said that improved road connectivity, welfare schemes, and rehabilitation initiatives have helped bring more Maoists into the mainstream. Many of those surrendering cited exhaustion from years of hiding and the lure of a peaceful life under government rehabilitation programs.

The surrender comes at a time when the government has accelerated infrastructure development in former Naxal-dominated belts. Shah said these measures have isolated the extremist groups and cut off their local support networks.

With the latest surrenders, the Centre believes it has gained a decisive edge in its mission to eliminate Maoism. Shah reiterated that the government will continue its efforts until the last traces of Left-wing extremism disappear from the country.