In a significant development for counter-insurgency efforts in central India, as many as 29 Maoists surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Wednesday, underscoring the sustained pressure being mounted against left-wing extremism in the Bastar region. Officials described the surrender as a major morale boost for security agencies and a sign that the government’s combined strategy of intensified operations and rehabilitation outreach is yielding results.

The surrender took place in the presence of senior officers of the Chhattisgarh Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Those who laid down arms were active members of various frontal wings of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), police officials said. The group included cadres from the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan (DAKMS), the militia wing and the Janatana Sarkar, which functions as the Maoists’ parallel administrative structure in areas under their influence.

Among the surrendered cadres was Podiam Budhra, a key figure in the Maoist ecosystem in Sukma. Budhra served as the head of the DAKMS in the Gogunda area and carried a cash reward of ₹2 lakh on his head. His decision to surrender is being viewed as a particularly important breakthrough, given his role in mobilising local tribal communities and sustaining Maoist influence in the region.

Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) Kiran Chavan said the surrendered Maoists cited the state government’s “Poona Margem” initiative as a major factor behind their decision to abandon violence. The programme focuses on rehabilitation, social reintegration and livelihood support for former Maoists who choose to return to the mainstream.

“The surrendered cadres stated that they were disillusioned with the ideology and violent methods of the Maoist organisation,” Chavan said. “They were also encouraged by the government’s rehabilitation policy, which offers them an opportunity to live a secure and dignified life.”

Officials said the surrender was also the result of sustained and targeted anti-Naxal operations in the Gogunda area, which was once considered a stronghold of the Maoists’ Darbha division. The recent establishment of a permanent security camp in the region has played a crucial role in altering the balance on the ground.

“The Gogunda area has extremely difficult and remote terrain, which earlier allowed Maoists to operate freely and evade security forces,” an official said. “With the setting up of a security camp, continuous patrolling, area domination exercises and search operations have been intensified. This has sharply curtailed the movement and activities of Maoist cadres.”

According to police officials, the security camp has effectively dismantled what was once a strategic base for the Maoists. The loss of this safe zone has weakened their support system, disrupted supply lines and eroded their ability to intimidate local villagers. As a result, several cadres have reportedly begun reassessing their future within the organisation.

SP Chavan urged other Maoists still active in the forests of Bastar to follow the same path. “Violence has brought nothing but suffering to the people of this region,” he said. “Those who give up arms and join the mainstream will be given full support under the rehabilitation policy. The door remains open.”

The surrender in Sukma is part of a broader trend seen across Chhattisgarh in recent months, with a growing number of Maoists choosing to lay down arms. Earlier this month, 26 Maoist cadres surrendered in Sukma district on January 7. Just a day later, on January 8, as many as 63 Maoists surrendered in neighbouring Dantewada district, marking one of the largest mass surrenders in recent years.

According to official data, more than 1,500 Maoists surrendered across Chhattisgarh in 2025 alone. Security officials attribute this to a multi-pronged strategy that combines aggressive counter-insurgency operations with development initiatives and rehabilitation schemes aimed at addressing long-standing grievances in tribal areas.

The state government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy offers financial assistance, vocational training, housing support and educational opportunities to former Maoists. Officials say this approach has helped convince many lower- and mid-level cadres that there is a viable alternative to life in the underground movement.

At the same time, security forces have intensified operations against hardcore Maoist leaders who continue to advocate violence. Over the past year, several top commanders have been neutralised or forced to retreat deeper into forested areas, further weakening the organisation’s operational capabilities.

The Centre has also stepped up its coordination with Chhattisgarh and other affected states as part of its broader objective to eliminate Naxalism from the country by March 31 this year. Union Home Ministry officials have repeatedly stated that left-wing extremism is now confined to a much smaller geographical area than in the past, and that the movement is in its “final phase.”

Sukma, once regarded as one of the epicentres of Maoist violence, has seen notable improvements in recent years. The expansion of road networks, mobile connectivity, health services and education infrastructure has gradually reduced the isolation of remote villages. Security officials say these developmental efforts, combined with a stronger security presence, are making it increasingly difficult for Maoists to maintain influence among local communities.

However, challenges remain. The region’s dense forests, rugged terrain and socio-economic vulnerabilities continue to pose obstacles for both governance and security operations. Experts caution that while surrenders are an encouraging sign, sustained focus on development and trust-building will be essential to ensure that former cadres do not return to violence.

For now, Wednesday’s surrender of 29 Maoists in Sukma stands as another indication that the balance may be shifting decisively against left-wing extremism in Chhattisgarh. As security forces tighten their grip and rehabilitation pathways expand, officials hope more cadres will choose to abandon armed struggle and reintegrate into society, bringing the country closer to its goal of ending decades-long insurgency in the region.