Overview

• Union home minister Amit Shah said there will be no formal truce and told cadres to lay down arms, assuring that no shots would be fired at those who surrender.
• He promised a red-carpet surrender under what he called a lucrative rehabilitation policy for militants who defect.
• Shah reiterated the government’s target to end Naxalism by March 31, 2026 and argued the movement endures because its ideology is nurtured within society.
• Chhattisgarh home minister Vijay Sharma said a letter and voice note dated August 15, attributed to CPI (Maoist) spokesperson Abhay, were verified as authentic and conveyed a unilateral suspension and readiness for talks.
• State officials demanded rebels first remove improvised explosive devices to demonstrate sincerity as security operations continue after recent leadership losses and network disruptions.