Overview

• Fifty Naxalites, including 14 with a cumulative bounty of ₹68 lakh, surrendered in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, citing disillusionment with Maoist ideology and internal conflicts within the movement.
• The surrender coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state, where he is set to inaugurate development projects worth ₹33,700 crore.
• Government programs like 'Niya Nellanar,' which improve basic amenities in remote areas, were cited as key factors influencing the decision to surrender.
• This development follows intensified security operations in 2025, with 134 Naxalites killed in encounters so far this year, marking significant progress in the government’s goal to eradicate Naxalism by March 2026.
• The surrendered Naxalites will be rehabilitated under government policies aimed at reintegrating former rebels into mainstream society.