The number of Maoists surrendering and entering the mainstream is increasing with each passing day

30 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh on Thursday

A jawan of the Bijapur District Reserve Guard (DRG) was killed and bodies of 30 Maoists were recovered in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh on Thursday. A joint team was deployed under the Gangalur police station in the border areas of Bijapur and Dantewada districts as part of the anti-Maoist operation. Continuous firing was reported between the Maoists and security forces at 7am on Thursday.

What is the monetary assistance when they surrender?

* Monetary assistance varies from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 60 lakh based on the rank.

* Central Committee members get Rs 40 lakh and a politburo member gets up to Rs 60 lakh

SRINIVAS REDDY & T P VENU   I hyderabad

For the first time in over seventy years, Maoists are on the back foot. Their numbers are dwindling daily due to arrests, fatalities, and voluntary surrenders. New Delhi’s aggressive approach has breached Maoist strongholds, compelling them to surrender. In a recent incident, a jawan from the Bijapur District Reserve Guard (DRG) was killed, and the bodies of 30 Maoists were recovered in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh on Thursday.

The counter-insurgency strategy of incentivizing surrenders is yielding results, with many senior Maoist leaders seeking new lives after surrendering (see box for monetary benefits). In just 2025, 164 have surrendered and 104 have been arrested. India is evolving quickly, and the aspirations of tribal populations are rising. The development of mobile connectivity and road infrastructure in Maoist regions, along with the facilitation of banking networks, has significantly impacted the Maoists and alienated many rebels.

Reasons for the Decline of Maoist Influence

In the last two years, nearly 1,000 kilometers of roads have been constructed in Maoist-influenced areas, restricting their movements. Furthermore, Maoist territory has shrunk from 11,000 square kilometers to 7,000 square kilometers. With technology-driven interventions including satellite communications and aerial surveillance, the central government has effectively diminished the Maoists' capabilities.

Approximately 10,000 Maoists have been killed in conflicts over the past two decades. Public sentiment has shifted from an emphasis on equality to personal choice. Senior Maoist leaders are now surrendering due to ill-health, and many are disenchanted with evolving ideologies. Cadres and mid-level leaders are increasingly abandoning the movement.

A significant factor in this shift is their failure to establish a permanent military base as envisioned by the party. Union Home Minister Amit Shah referred to these encounters as “another big success in the direction of Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan,” asserting that India could be Naxal-free by March 31 of next year in a post on X.