Security forces achieve major success in Chhattisgarh as 108 Naxalites surrender.

Raipur (The Uttam Hindu): Security forces have achieved a major success in the anti-Naxal operation. On Wednesday, more than 100 Naxals surrendered simultaneously in Chhattisgarh region. A reward of Rs 3.95 crore was announced on all of them. According to official information, a total of 108 Naxals have surrendered. 37 in Bijapur, 4 in Narayanpur, 16 in Bastar, 3 in Kanker, 18 in Sukma and 30 Naxals surrendered in Dantewada. There was a reward of Rs 8 lakh each on 22 Naxals, while Rs 5 lakh was announced on 31, Rs 3 lakh on one, Rs 2 lakh each on 9 Naxals and Rs 1 lakh each on 43.

This is one of the largest Naxalite surrenders ever. The surrender of such a large number of Naxalites is a key component of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's "Naxal-Free India Campaign." The Indian government has set a deadline of March 31, 2026, for a "Naxal-Free India." The surrender of such a large number of Naxalites before the deadline is considered a major success for the mission.

Earlier, 15 Maoists surrendered with weapons in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district. On March 1, the surrendered Maoists handed over a cache of weapons to police, including three AK-47 rifles, two SLRs (self-loading rifles), and two Indian Small Arms System rifles. The group included nine women and six men, affiliated with the Balangir-Bargarh-Mahasamund Committee, active along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.

Meanwhile, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General GP Singh visited a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Chhattisgarh last week and urged soldiers to remain fully prepared for the final phase of the operation. He stated that the deadline for making Jharkhand Naxal-free is March 31st, and security forces must achieve this goal at all costs.

During the operation, the Director General instructed the troops to exercise special vigilance during operations in the jungles. He stated that hidden IEDs (improvised explosive devices) planted by Naxalites pose the greatest threat, and therefore, all safety protocols must be strictly followed to ensure the goal of "zero casualties" during the operation.