TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 17, 2025: In a landmark development signaling the dawn of peace in Bastar, 210 Maoist cadres laid down their arms and joined the social mainstream under the “Poona Margem – From Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation” programme. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, addressing a press conference in Jagdalpur, described the event as a defining moment not just for Bastar but for the entire nation.
Among the surrendered cadres are one Central Committee member, four Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee members, one Regional Committee member, 22 Divisional Committee members, 61 Area Committee members, and 98 Party members — together carrying a reward of ₹9.18 crore. The group surrendered 153 weapons, including 19 AK-47s, 17 SLRs, 23 INSAS rifles, one INSAS LMG, 36 .303 rifles, four carbines, 11 BGL launchers, 41 shotguns, and one pistol.
Calling the day one of the most emotional and fulfilling in his public life, Chief Minister Sai said, “The youth who laid down their guns and picked up the Constitution have sown the seeds of peace and unity in Chhattisgarh. Change comes not through violence, but through trust and policy.”
The Chief Minister said that the State Government’s sensitive approach and people-centric policies, including the Naxalite Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy 2025, Niyad Nella Nar Yojana, and Poona Margem initiative, have transformed the atmosphere of Bastar. “Guns and gunpowder are being replaced with dialogue, sensitivity, and development,” he said.
Terming the mass surrender the largest in Bastar’s history, CM Sai credited it to coordinated efforts between the Central and State Governments, police, security forces, local administration, and civil society. “This is not only a victory for Bastar but a message for the entire country — when intentions are pure and policies are compassionate, peace becomes inevitable,” he said.
Emphasizing that Bastar is now moving from fear to faith, CM Sai noted, “In regions like Abujhmad and North Bastar, where terror once prevailed, trust and hope now take root. Those who once lived in the forests are now becoming contributors to social progress.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completely eradicate Naxalism from the state under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “The transformation unfolding in Bastar is living proof of this resolve,” he said.
Assuring full support for rehabilitation, CM Sai announced that every surrendered cadre would receive opportunities for self-employment, training, housing, education, and livelihood to enable them to live a dignified life and participate in the development of society.
“The Poona Margem programme embodies the belief that real change is born from trust, not violence,” he said, adding that it will now energize development in areas such as education, healthcare, and livelihood improvement across Bastar.
Calling the event a historic milestone, CM Sai said, “When government policies are sensitive and people-oriented, even the toughest challenges can be overcome. Our mission is not only to end Naxalism but to build a new Bastar where every home has faith and every heart is lit by development.”
He expressed gratitude to the people of Bastar, public representatives, security forces, media, and social organizations for their collective support. “The journey of peace and progress can be sustained only through the shared commitment of all sections of society,” he said.
Concluding his address, CM Sai stated, “This is not merely a surrender — it is a journey of awakening. Bastar’s new identity will be of peace, trust, and development. In the days ahead, Bastar will not only be Naxal-free but will emerge as a national model of transformation and hope.”
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, MP Mahesh Kashyap, Jagdalpur MLA Kiran Singh Deo, DGP Arun Dev Gautam, ADG CRPF Amit Kumar, ADG BSF Namgyal, ADG (ANO) Vivekanand Sinha, Bastar Range IG Sundarraj P, SPs of all Bastar districts, and senior officers from Central Armed Police Forces.
