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Raipur, Oct 18 (IANS) In a historic success, the PM Modi government has dealt a decisive blow to the Maoist insurgency with large-scale surrenders and a dramatic decline in violence in former hotspots.
The Red Corridor, once the epicenter of Red Terror, is now crumbling – proof that India’s dual strategy of security and development is having a lasting impact.
In a historic breakthrough, over 200 Maoist cadres, including Central Committee member and senior leader Rupesh, surrendered en masse at the Reserve Police Lines in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur on Friday.
This shift, driven by targeted security operations and robust development, reflects a nuanced understanding of counter-terrorism operations, with Chhattisgarh’s recent successes offering a blueprint for sustainable peace.
This was evident from the mass surrender of more than 300 Maoist cadres, including Central Committee member and senior leader Rupesh, in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on October 17 in just 72 hours.
In the first group of 208 – 110 women and 98 men from Dandakaranya area, 153 gave up their weapons. There was a collective reward of Rs 9.18 crore on him.
The event, greeted with flowers and copies of the Indian Constitution, underlined the growing rejection of Maoist ideology in favor of democratic reunification, indicating the ideological bankruptcy of the insurgency.
The same day, speaking at the NDTV World Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra described it as a historic turning point.
He offered his “personal guarantee” to end this long-standing menace, saying “the day is not far when India will be free from Maoist terror.”
PM Modi highlighted the decline of Maoist influence, with the number of affected districts reducing from 182 in 2014 to just 11 by October 2025, of which only three remain high-risk. He said that 303 Maoists have surrendered in the last 72 hours.
“These were not ordinary Naxalites. They are now ready to embrace the Constitution,” he said, crediting policies that combine enforcement with opportunity. In PM Modi’s address, deep sympathy was expressed towards the affected communities.
“Maoist terror is a grave injustice, a sin against our youth,” he said while condoling the “countless mothers who have lost their sons to Naxal-violence”. He shared the plight of the victims—villagers, farmers and tribals, some of whom had their limbs amputated—who spent a week in Delhi pleading for their voices to be heard, highlighting the human toll of Maoism and challenging narratives that romanticize the insurgency.
“These were poor villagers, farmers and tribals – some of them with limbs amputated; they were standing with folded hands, holding press conferences to get their point across to the people – not those who defend the Maoists while flouting the Constitution,” PM Modi remarked while condemning “urban Naxals” and previous Congress-led governments for allegedly hiding Maoist atrocities.
The Naxalite movement, based on the revolutionary ideals of Mao Zedong, began in 1967 under the leadership of Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal in Naxalbari, West Bengal.
Aiming to address land inequality through armed rebellion, it spread into the “Red Corridor” including Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004 intensified the insurgency, which has resulted in the loss of more than 10,000 lives and halted development since 2000.
The Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, with its dense forests, became a stronghold of the Maoists. The creation of the state in the 2000s saw an increase in violence, including the 2010 Dantewada attack in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed.
The controversial Salwa Judum campaign aimed at countering the Maoists has been criticized for human rights abuses, further alienating tribals caught in the conflict. Chhattisgarh’s Naxalite Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy 2025 has been a game-changer in curbing the insurgency.
Offering financial assistance, vocational training, land allotment and government jobs, the policy, coupled with initiatives such as the “Niyad Nela Naar Yojana” and “Poona Margam”, has encouraged more than 2,000 surrenders since its inception.
Under the policy, the government provides initial assistance of Rs 50,000, Rs 10,000 monthly for three years and full reward award (up to Rs 1 crore) to surrendered Naxalites. High value cadres get 4 decimal urban land or 1 hectare agricultural land or Rs 2 lakh in return. Earning up to Rs 5 lakh (like AK-47) on surrendering weapons.
Free housing, ration, health care, education, vocational training and jobs are also provided. Village-level dedication will yield Rs 1 crore for development. Over Rs 150 crore has been spent due to hundreds of surrenders in 2025 alone.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently wrote on his X handle, “It is a matter of immense satisfaction that the areas once considered the epicenter of terrorism – Abujhmad and North Bastar in Chhattisgarh – have now been officially declared free from Naxalite violence. Only a few scattered elements are left in South Bastar, and our security forces are ready to rapidly neutralize them.”
He further wrote, “Since the formation of the BJP government in Chhattisgarh in January 2024, a total of 2,100 Naxalites have surrendered, 1,785 have been arrested and 477 have been neutralised. These figures reflect our unwavering commitment to root out Naxalism by 31 March 2026.”
Earlier during October, when HM Shah visited Chhattisgarh to participate in the Bastar Dussehra festival and Muria Darbar, he had urged Maoists to give up arms and join the mainstream, but warned, “Those who choose violence will be dealt with with force.”
In a separate post, he had asserted, “There are no human rights for those who walk around with weapons in their hands. Rights come with the renunciation of violence – there will be no negotiations with those who refuse to disarm.”
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai credits it for restoring confidence among tribals, with former Maoists regrouping as farmers, teachers and entrepreneurs. It has revitalized areas like Bastar, reduced violence by 85 percent and enabled development projects. The policy’s focus on dignity and opportunity has weakened Maoist recruitment, promoting hope and stability.
Under SAI’s leadership, Chhattisgarh has seen an 85 percent decline in Naxal incidents, with North Bastar and Abujhmad now declared Naxal free.
Security operations, including forward bases in remote areas, have disrupted Maoist networks, while development projects have brought roads, schools and hospitals to isolated villages. The Bastar Olympics, a tribal-led celebration of culture and sports, is a symbol of this resurgence.
Envisioning a fear-free celebration, PM Modi promised, “This Diwali will be different in areas affected by Maoist terror.” Former Maoists, disappointed with their leadership, are adopting mainstream life.
As India moves closer to its goal of a Naxal-free nation by 2026, it is essential to address the root causes such as land rights and inequality to prevent resurgence. With the Red Corridor fading and hope rising in Bastar, PM Modi’s vision of a more united, more prosperous India is within reach.
–IANS
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