Senior Maoist Papa Rao to Surrender, Chhattisgarh Nears End of Armed Naxalism

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma on Tuesday announced that the last remaining senior Maoist commander, Papa Rao , is set to surrender along with his team members , marking a significant milestone in the state’s fight against Left Wing Extremism .

Sharma, who also holds the Home portfolio , said once Rao lays down arms, it can be said " technically and clearly " that no Naxal operative of that rank or even lower remains active in the state.

Papa Rao, active in the Dandakaranaya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of Maoists, had masterminded several deadly attacks on security forces over the past two decades, including the infamous Tadmetla attack in 2010 , in which 76 troopers were killed. He has been active for nearly 25 years , evading multiple encounters, despite a reward of Rs 25 lakh announced for his capture.

Rao will surrender along with more than a dozen team members in the Bastar region. “With this rehabilitation, Naxal presence within Chhattisgarh will effectively come to an end . The state will be free from armed Naxalism by March 31, 2026 ,” Sharma stated.

The minister added that more surrenders are expected in the coming week as part of ongoing rehabilitation efforts . He also noted that members at the party and area committee levels of Maoists in Chhattisgarh are no longer engaged in armed activities and have largely settled down, having laid down their arms and given up uniforms .

Only a few remaining names linked to Chhattisgarh are currently active in Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) and Telangana , where the government is facilitating their surrender.

Sharma said that Papa Rao’s mindset has changed , and personal talks with him confirmed his willingness to surrender. The DKSZC , which handled Maoist activities in Bastar and adjoining areas, had been the strongest formation of the outlawed outfit , responsible for multiple attacks over the years.

With Rao’s surrender, Chhattisgarh is expected to see a historic decline in Naxal violence , bringing the state closer to the long-pursued goal of ending armed Naxalism.