108 Maoists carrying Rs3.95 crore bounty surrender in Bastar

In a significant development in the anti-Maoist operations, 108 Maoists laid down their arms in Bastar on Wednesday,marking a major breakthrough in India’s long-running anti-insurgency operations.Officials stated the surrendered cadres, many linked to the powerful Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), carried a combined government bounty of nearly Rs3.95 crore. The development comes just days before the March 31, 2026 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate Maoist insurgency in the country.Security forces also uncovered what officials described as one of the largest Maoist dumps recovered in recent times during the operation.
Based on information provided by the surrendered cadres, security forces recovered Rs3.61 crore in cash and nearly one kilogram of gold worth about Rs1.64 crore, along with a large cache of weapons.According to information,the recovered arsenal included 101 modern and improvised firearms, among them seven AK-47 rifles, ten INSAS rifles, one carbine, five SLRs, four light machine guns, twenty .303 rifles, 25 twelve-bore guns, 11 BGL launchers, one mortar, three .315-bore rifles, 13 Bharmar guns and a Mega BGL launcher.Officials said this is the first time such a large amount of cash and gold has been recovered during an anti-Maoist operation in the country.
Police said the surrender process began after several Maoist cadres initiated contact with security forces and expressed willingness to give up arms. During negotiations, they revealed the locations of hidden Maoist dumps in forest areas, enabling forces to recover the cache. A formal surrender ceremony is scheduled where the seized weapons and valuables will be displayed.
Addressing a press conference at Shaurya Bhavan, DGP Arun Dev Gautam said the mass surrender reflects the growing impact of the state’s “Poona Margem” campaign aimed at dismantling the Maoist network in Bastar.According to Gautam, 2,714 Maoists have surrendered since January 1, 2024, indicating a steady weakening of the insurgent movement in the region.Among those who surrendered were several senior figures in the Maoist hierarchy, including DVCM Rahul Telam, Pandru Kowasi and Jhitru Oyam from the West Bastar Division, DVCM Ramdhar alias Biru from the East Bastar Division Committee, DVCM Mallesh from the North Bastar Division Committee, CYPC Commander Muchaki from PLGA Battalion No. 1, and DVCM Kosa Mandavi from the Andhra-Odisha Border region.
Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, described the surrender as a strong indication that Bastar is moving towards peace and stability. He credited the development to the state’s rehabilitation policy and sustained operations by security forces.CM said the government remains committed to eliminating Maoist insurgency under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, following the strategy of “security, development and trust”.
Security agencies believe the coming weeks will be crucial as the anti-Maoist campaign enters its decisive phase. During a recent visit to forward operating bases in Chhattisgarh, G. P. Singh, Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force, instructed troops to remain alert and intensify operations while ensuring zero casualties, warning that hidden improvised explosive devices planted by Maoists remain a major threat in the dense forests of Bastar.With hundreds of cadres surrendering and major weapons caches being uncovered, officials say the insurgency that once dominated the Bastar region is facing one of its most challenging phases in decades.