Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Dec 10: In a significant breakthrough for Maharashtra’s anti-Maoist operations, eleven Maoists carrying a combined reward of ?82 lakh surrendered before the police in the insurgency-hit Gadchiroli district on Wednesday. The surrender is being seen as a substantial blow to the CPI (Maoist)’s influence in the region.
All eleven individuals—each linked to decades of violent activities across Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh—laid down arms before Maharashtra Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla at a formal event in Gadchiroli. Four of them arrived with weapons and Maoist uniforms, further underscoring the gravity of their decision.
Among the most prominent to surrender was Ramesh, known by the aliases Bhima and Baju Guddi Lekami. Carrying a Rs 16 lakh reward and facing 88 cases in Gadchiroli alone—including 43 encounters, eight arson attacks, and dozens of other offences—he has been a key figure within the banned organisation since joining in 2004. Authorities are still verifying his involvement in crimes outside Maharashtra.
Senior police officials, including Additional DGP (Special Operations) Chhering Dorje, attended the event during their two-day visit to the district.
Officials highlighted that increasing disenchantment with extremist ideology and frustration over violence inflicted on locals have prompted many Maoists to opt for rehabilitation under the state’s 2005 Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy.
Under this programme, Gadchiroli Police have facilitated the surrender of 783 Maoists so far.
The latest development adds to two major mass surrenders earlier this year:
• On January 1, eleven Maoists, including Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee member Tarakka Sidam, gave up arms.
• On October 15, top Maoist leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao—also known as Bhupathi or Sonu—and 61 cadres surrendered before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Police officials say these cumulative setbacks have considerably weakened Maoist operations across Gadchiroli and the broader Dandakaranya zone.
During her visit, DGP Shukla also felicitated C-60 commandos at Eklavya Hall for their pivotal role in the successful surrender of 61 Maoists in the Laheri forest region. Commending their courage, she noted that they “entered extremely remote territory without concern for their own safety and achieved remarkable success.”
Appealing to remaining insurgents, Shukla urged them to abandon arms and “join the mainstream of democracy to live a life of dignity.”
She also unveiled "Project Udaan — A Glimpse of Development," a handbook designed by the Gadchiroli Police to help officers spread awareness about government welfare schemes in remote tribal regions.