Fifteen Naxalites belonging to the Balangir-Bargarh-Mahasamund (BBM) division of CPI (Maoists) surrendered before security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district on Sunday (March 1, 2026), Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said.
Among those who laid down arms was Vikas, a Special Zonal Committee-level member. Nine of the 15 surrendered cadres are women. The group also deposited a cache of weapons, including three AK-47 rifles, two self-loading rifles (SLRs), two INSAS rifles and three .303 rifles, said Mr. Sharma.
Describing the development as a breakthrough under the State’s rehabilitation policy, the deputy CM told journalists in Raipur, “Today’s rehabilitation is very important. Fifteen Naxalites from the Balangir-Bargarh-Mahasamund division have surrendered. Only 15 members were left in this division, and all of them have now laid down arms.”
Last week, Vikas had written to the Chhattisgarh Government expressing willingness to surrender along with other fellow members of the BBM division, which operated along the Chhattisgarh Odisha border. In his letter, he had asked the government to issue a radio message assuring the safety of those intending to surrender and flagged certain concerns.
Subsequently, Mr. Sharma issued an audio message welcoming the decision and assuring support under rehabilitation framework.
Addressing the concern raised, a press statement issued by Mr. Sharma noted, “The circumstances are not yet completely right to send you home as soon as you join the mainstream. There could be a danger to your life at home, and due to staying in the jungle for a long time, you do not have various types of documents and bank accounts. It is necessary to complete these processes as well, before joining the mainstream.”
The Centre has set a target of eliminating Naxalism from the country by March 31 this year.
Published – March 01, 2026 05:00 pm IST
