In a landmark development in Chhattisgarh’s long fight against Left Wing Extremism, 208 Naxalites surrendered on Friday and chose to return to the mainstream, marking a major step towards restoring peace in the Dandakaranya region.

Officials said that with this surrender, most areas of Abujhmad have now been freed from Naxal influence, signalling the possible end of decades of Red terror in North Bastar.

"Only South Bastar now remains affected," top government officials said. They confirmed that the surrendered group included 110 women and 98 men from different ranks of the banned CPI Maoist organisation.

Among those who gave up arms were one Central Committee Member, four Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee Members, one Regional Committee Member, 21 Divisional Committee Members, 61 Area Committee Members, 98 Party Members, and 22 members of PLGA, RPC, and other cadres.

The Maoists also handed over 153 weapons during the surrender, including 19 AK-47 rifles, 17 SLR rifles, 23 INSAS rifles, one INSAS LMG, 36 .303 rifles, four carbines, 11 BGL launchers, 41 twelve-bore or single-shot guns, and one pistol.

Officials described the surrender as one of the most significant breakthroughs in recent years, saying it reflects the growing success of the government’s Naxal Eradication and Rehabilitation Policy 2025, which focuses on development, dialogue, and trust-building to help militants return to the mainstream.

This mass surrender is expected to accelerate peace and development efforts across the region and further weaken the remaining Maoist network in the Bastar division, once considered the stronghold of Left Wing Extremism in India.

Among the senior Maoist leaders who surrendered were Rupesh alias Satish, a Central Committee Member, Bhaskar alias Rajman Mandavi, Ranita, Raju Salam, and Dhannu Vetti alias Santu, all Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee Members, and Ratan Elam, a Regional Committee Member.

Officials said the surrender represents a decisive step towards lasting peace and inclusive development in Bastar and the wider Dandakaranya region, once regarded as the epicentre of Naxalism.