A woman Maoist commander was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kanker district on Monday, as search operations continued in the area following intelligence inputs about Maoist presence.
Senior CPI (Maoist) leader and politburo member Prashant Bose, widely known as Kishan Da, died at a Ranchi hospital on Friday after prolonged illness, officials said.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday said that the state is poised to enter a new phase of development, trust, and prosperity as it moves decisively towards becoming free of Maoist insurgency.
On the day the clock ran out on the Union government’s deadline to end armed Maoist insurgency, Bastar woke up to a different kind of reality, one marked not by gunfire or ambush alerts, but by a cautious, almost unfamiliar sense of calm.
Papa Rao, one of the most wanted Maoist leaders with a bounty of ₹25 lakh on his head, surrendered before security forces in Jagdalpur along with 17 armed insurgents, including two other senior cadres identified as DVCM Prakash Madvi and DVCM Anil Tati.
Modi emphasized the people’s strong desire for the complete eradication of Maoist violence, which had long threatened the future of their children.
Among those who surrendered were prominent Maoist leaders Rupesh, Ranita, Raju Salam, and Ratan, marking final blow to the armed insurgency that has gripped South Chhattisgarh for decades.
Home Minister Vijay Sharma, speaking in Raipur, confirmed that a large number of Maoists have expressed willingness to surrender. “We are ready to welcome them with a red carpet. Many who surrendered in Kanker yesterday will also be brought to Jagdalpur for the formal ceremony,” he said.
The operation led to the uncovering of a major Maoist gun-repair and maintenance unit along with machines, equipment, explosives, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
According to a press note issued by the police headquarters, nine squad members and one area committee member of the CPI (Maoist) laid down their arms.
