Jagdalpur, Oct 17: In a major blow to the Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh, 208 Naxalites from the remote Maad region surrendered on Friday in a ceremony held at the Reserve Police Lines in Jagdalpur, Bastar district.

The event was attended by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who joined virtually.

Many of the surrendered rebels had operated for years in the dense Dandakaranya forests, but chose to renounce violence and embrace democracy. They arrived carrying copies of the Indian Constitution, a powerful symbol of their commitment to peaceful reintegration.

Banners reading ‘Puna Margem’, meaning “new path,” underscored their intent to begin life anew through rehabilitation.

The group handed over a massive cache of 153 firearms, including: 19 AK-47 rifles, 17 SLR rifles, 23 INSAS rifles, 1 INSAS light machine gun, 36 .303 rifles, 4 carbines, 11 barrel grenade launchers, 41 12-bore/single-shot weapons, one pistol.

The mass surrender includes 110 women and 98 men, comprising high-ranking cadres.

Also read: 27 Maoists Surrender Before Police In Chhattisgarh's Sukma

This historic surrender marks a significant step toward restoring peace and stability in the region, and reflects the growing impact of government outreach and rehabilitation efforts

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailed the surrender and termed it as proof of India’s new security policy and development vision.

Taking to the Twitter handle, Pradhan wrote: “Puna Margem: From Rehabilitation to Revival,” 210 Naxalites in the historically Naxal-affected Dandakaranya region have abandoned the path of violence and returned to the mainstream. Additionally, yesterday, Abujhmad and North Bastar—once considered strongholds of Naxalite violence—have become completely free from Naxalism. This transformation is the result of the unwavering resolve of the Government of India under the leadership of the honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the implementation by the honorable Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji, with the ongoing campaign to completely rid the country of the curse of Naxalism by March 31, 2026."

"Since the formation of the BJP government in January 2024, in Chhattisgarh alone, 2100 Naxalites have surrendered, 1785 have been arrested, and 477 have been neutralized by security forces. These are not just numbers but the resonance of a changing India’s security and determination. Now, Naxalism is confined to only a few areas of South Bastar, and soon, the sun of development will rise there as well, and these regions will play a significant role in the direction of a ‘Developed India, ” Pradhan further stated.