Kanker: A senior Maoist divisional committee member surrendered before security forces in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh late on the night of February 24. The cadre, identified as Mallesh, carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh and arrived at the Chhotebethiya camp of the Border Security Force (BSF), where he laid down an AK-47 rifle.
Officials said he had been active for several years in the Abujhmad region of Bastar and was considered one of the last remaining commanders operating there. Abujhmad, a 4,000 sq km forested and hilly expanse spread across Narayanpur, Bijapur and Dantewada districts in south Chhattisgarh, has long been described as a “liberated zone” due to its inaccessibility. The difficult terrain and limited road connectivity have made it a key hideout for senior Maoist leaders and one of the toughest operational theatres for security forces.
Wave of surrenders gathers pace
The surrender comes amid a wider wave of Maoist defections in Bastar in early 2026, with authorities citing growing momentum under the state’s rehabilitation policy. Between January 1 and February 17 this year, 226 Maoists surrendered across Chhattisgarh, while 22 were killed in encounters and 72 were arrested, reflecting a sustained multi-pronged strategy.
The union government has set March 31, 2026, as the target to eliminate Maoism nationwide. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently stated that Abujhmarh and North Bastar in Chhattisgarh have been declared free from Maoist influence, calling it a significant milestone in the fight against left-wing extremism.
Rehabilitation and development push
Officials attribute the decline in Maoist activity to coordinated security operations, expansion of security camps, improved road connectivity and targeted development initiatives. In Dantewada, the district administration, in collaboration with the State Bank of India’s Rural Self-Employment Training Institute (SBI-RSETI), has launched skill development programmes, including masonry training for 35 surrendered youths, to aid their reintegration.
The latest surrender is being viewed as another step forward in efforts to curb left-wing extremism in one of India’s most insurgency-affected regions.
