The campaign against Left-Wing Extremism in Chhattisgarh received a boost with ongoing Naxalite surrenders in Kanker district. Ramko Mandavi, the personal security guard of wanted Naxalite leader Rupi, surrendered to security forces. Efforts to capture Rupi in the dense forests are ongoing.
Two hardcore Naxalites, Shankar and Hidma Dodi from Koilibeda, surrendered, with one carrying an AK-47 rifle. They were active CPI (Maoist) members involved in violent incidents. Security sources view these surrenders as a morale boost and a sign of the Naxal network weakening in Bastar division.
The Kanker region, bordering Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli, has been a Naxal hotbed. Joint operations by BSF, Chhattisgarh Police, and intelligence agencies have weakened the extremists. Development projects, improved connectivity, and rehabilitation packages have encouraged militants to return to society.
Chhattisgarh has seen numerous Naxalite surrenders in districts like Kanker, Sukma, and Bijapur. The state, with central support, promotes a surrender and rehabilitate policy while conducting anti-Naxal operations. Authorities aim to make India Naxal-free by 2026, with recent surrenders in Kanker contributing to this goal.
