208 Maoist cadres surrender at a formal ceremony in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur

CHHATTISGARH/JAGDALPUR , OCT 17 : In the largest single-day surrender, as many as 208 cadres, including 110 women naxals, have laid down arms at Reserve Police Line in Jagdalpur (Bastar district), about 300 km south of Raipur, on Friday.

The incident has inflicted a big setback to the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) movement in Chhattisgarh.

The surrendered Red rebels led by senior Naxal leader Rupesh also deposited 153 weapons, including AK-47 rifles, INSAS assault rifles, self-loading rifle (SLR), Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL), besides other arms.

They were accorded a symbolic red carpet welcome at the venue after they arrived on buses, with each given a copy of the Indian Constitution and a rose on the stage under a formal ceremony, ‘Puna Margem’, indicating the Maoist cadres rejoining the mainstream.

The earlier official schedule of the mass surrender of Maoists before the Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai stands cancelled, a senior police officer said.

The CM, however, is expected to address a press conference later in Jagdalpur, he added.

“Owing to the government’s comprehensive Naxalite eradication policy, as many as 208 cadres from the Dandakaranya region, including senior Maoist leaders, have renounced the path of violence and returned to the social mainstream, said the officials.

“This decisive and significant development is the result of the sustained and sincere efforts of the police, security forces, local administration, and conscious society under the guidance of the government. Sustained efforts focused on peace, dialogue, and development have inspired many Maoist cadres to embrace a dignified and harmonious life”, they added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday acclaimed the occasion as a major success in the fight against Naxalism. “North Bastar region and  Abujhmad are now Naxal free. I commend all of them for their decision to restore their faith in the Indian Constitution”, Shah stated.

“The new era of peace and development in Bastar has begun. It’s a historical success towards wiping out Naxalism in a mission led by PM Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah”, CM Sai said.    `

List of weapons deposited:

1) AK-47 rifle: 19

2) SLR rifle: 17

3) INSAS rifle: 23

4) INSAS LMG: 01

5) .303 Rifle: 36

6) Carbine: 04

7) BGL launcher: 11

8) 12 Bore/ Single shot: 41

9) Pistol: 01

-PTI