108 Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh, paramilitary forces set to be withdrawn by 2027

In a major stride against Naxalism, 108 Maoists , including six divisional commanders carrying rewards of Rs 8 lakh each , surrendered to authorities in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. The surrender spans Maoists from Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma, Bastar, Narayanpur, and Kanker , all under the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee . The cumulative reward on the surrendered cadres totals Rs 3.95 crore . Security forces have also recovered a significant cache of arms based on intelligence provided by the surrendered guerrillas.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a bold target to eradicate armed Naxalism across the country by March 31, 2026 , marking a historic push to restore peace in the region.

Echoing this optimism, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma informed the state assembly that most paramilitary forces deployed in Bastar are likely to begin withdrawing after the eradication of Naxalism, with full withdrawal expected by March 31, 2027 . Some forces may return even earlier depending on ground conditions. Sharma highlighted that the police department has been allocated Rs 7,721.01 crore in the state budget, including Rs 38 crore for rehabilitation of surrendered Left Wing Extremist cadres through vocational training and fixed deposits.

The state is also modernizing its law enforcement with new posts in cybercrime, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Special Operations Group, Anti-Narcotics Task Force, and bomb disposal units. Four central jails, Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, and Ambikapur, have received ISO 9001:2015 certification , and a Prison Calling System is being introduced in 16 jails to facilitate inmate communication with family and lawyers.

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel welcomed the developments, emphasizing that Bastar’s recovery should primarily benefit local communities. He suggested a special assembly session on March 31 to celebrate the end of armed Naxalism in the state.

With mass surrenders and strategic planning for troop withdrawal, Chhattisgarh is taking historic steps toward reclaiming peace and stability in the heart of India’s Naxal-affected regions.