11 Maoists surrender before Maharashtra DGP in Gadchiroli

The other Maoists who surrendered were Poriye alias Lucky Adama Gota, Ratan alias Sanna Masu Oyam, Kamala alias Rago Iriya Veladi, Poriye alias Kumari Bhima Veladi, Ramaji alias Mura Lacchu Pungati, Sonu Podiyam alias Ajay Sanu Kato, Prakash alias Pandu Kundra Pungati, Sita alias Jaini Tonde Pallo and Sainath Shankar Made.

This year, 112 armed Maoist cadres have surrendered to the Gadchiroli police.

DGP appeals to Maoists to surrender

The recent surrender comes close on the heels of other breakthroughs this year. On January 1, 11 hardcore Maoists, including Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee member Tarakka Sidam, surrendered. Later, on October 15, 2025, senior CPI (Maoist) leader and Politburo member Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi alias Sonu, along with 61 senior Maoist cadres, surrendered before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. These surrenders are said to have dealt a major blow to the Maoist movement in Gadchiroli and the larger Dandakaranya region.

DGP Shukla, who is on a two-day visit to the district along with Dr Chhering Dorje, Additional DGP (Special Operations), attended a programme at Eklavya Hall where officers and personnel of the elite C-60 anti-Naxal unit were felicitated with certificates of appreciation. The C-60 team was praised for its successful operation in the remote Laheri forest area, which led to the surrender of 61 Maoists, along with the recovery of 54 firearms.

In her address, DGP Shukla commended the courage and dedication of the C-60 personnel and appealed to the remaining armed Maoists to surrender and join the democratic mainstream for a dignified life.

On the occasion, the Gadchiroli Police also released a guidebook titled Project Udaan – A Glimpse of Development: Government Scheme Handbook, aimed at helping officers spread awareness about government welfare schemes in remote and inaccessible areas. The guidebook was released by the DGP in the presence of senior police and CRPF officials.

Police officials said intensified anti-Maoist operations and sustained rehabilitation efforts have led to a sharp rise in surrenders in recent years. From 2022, 146 hardcore Maoists have surrendered before Gadchiroli police, including the 11 who surrendered on Tuesday.

Officials noted that the surrender reflects the growing impact of the Maharashtra government’s surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy, which has been in force since 2005. So far, 783 active Maoists have surrendered to the Gadchiroli police under this policy.

DIG Gadchiroli Range Ankit Goyal, DIG (Ops) CRPF Ajai Kumar Sharma, SP Gadchiroli Neelotpal (IPS), Additional SP (Ops) M. Ramesh, Additional SP Aheri Karrthik Madhira, ASP Dhanora Aniket Hirde and DySP (Ops) Vishal Nagargoje were among those present at the programme.