Abujhmad: A substantial group of approximately 140 Maoists, including key figures like senior CPI (Maoist) leader Rupesh and Ranita, who leads the Maad division of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKZC), are scheduled to surrender their arms. The formal ceremony will take place in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, where they will formally lay down their weapons before Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Home Minister Vijay Sharma.
Rupesh, originally from Andhra Pradesh, has been a significant operative in Chhattisgarh, managing logistics, communication, and training across various DKZC divisions in the Maad region. He was recognized as a crucial link between the Central Committee and local structures. Officials believe his surrender will considerably diminish the outfit’s operational capacity in Bastar.
Ranita, a senior woman commander within the organization, has been actively involved in several districts of Bastar.
An anonymous police officer noted that both leaders, who had been in hiding in remote forest areas, were persuaded to surrender due to mounting operational pressures and successful outreach initiatives.
According to police reports, the Maoists emerged from the forests and crossed the Indravati River near the Dantewada and Bijapur district borders. They are being transported to Jagdalpur for the official surrender ceremony.
The Abujhmad region, spanning Narayanpur and surrounding districts, has historically served as a crucial training ground and command hub for senior Maoist leaders, including Central Committee members and zonal commanders, for decades.
“The surrender of Rupesh and Ranita marks the end of an era,” commented a senior police official. “Abujhmad and Maad were once considered beyond the state’s reach. This event clearly shows how much the situation on the ground has changed.”
This development follows closely on the heels of the surrender of Mallojula Venugopal Rao, a key Maoist strategist, along with about 60 cadres, in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district just two days prior.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his satisfaction on X, stating, “It is a matter of immense pleasure that Abujhmar and North Bastar in Chhattisgarh, once terror bases, have today been declared free from Naxal terror. Only a trace of Naxalism remains in South Bastar, which will be eradicated soon by our security forces. Since January 2024, after the formation of the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, 2,100 Naxalites have surrendered, 1,785 have been arrested, and 477 have been eliminated. These figures reflect our strong determination to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.”
The state government is committed to providing rehabilitation benefits to the surrendered cadres, as per its policy, which includes financial aid, housing assistance, and vocational training.
Home Minister Vijay Sharma emphasized that the focus will remain on fostering peace through development, expanding governance reach, and facilitating the reintegration of surrendered cadres into society.