In a major victory, on Wednesday, 1st January, a total of 11 naxals including Tarakka Sidam surrendered before Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Gadchiroli Police headquarters. This happened during Fadnavis’ visit to the district. “This is a very important police station because Maoists dominated this area. Our police have established their outpost by demolishing the Maoist dominance. The area is being developed, a road is being developed which will connect us with Chhattisgarh. Mobile towers are also being installed,” he said.
11 naxals including Tarakka Sidam surrender before Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Gadchiroli Police headquarters. pic.twitter.com/ENfqCL8kx2
— ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2025
While addressing the issue of Maoism last month, the CM had taken cognizance of the 33 Naxals that had been killed in the last year and said that the North Part of Gadchiroli district had become completely ‘Naxal-free’. Fadnavis also said that as many as 55 Naxals have been arrested and 33 have surrendered in the same period.
Speaking during the winter session in the state assembly earlier he said, “North Part of Gadchiroli district is completely Naxal-free. 33 Maoists have been killed, 55 Maoists have been arrested, 33 Maoists have surrendered, in the last year”. He further said that the government would continue its fight against Naxalism and fix a timeline of three years to crush the left-wing extremism.
“1500 youths of Gadchiroli have joined the police force, out of which 33 youths are Naxal victims, the main leader of Maoists Giridhar, and his wife have surrendered, Giridhar had recruited the cadre of South Gadchiroli, the government’s goal is to eliminate Naxalism in the coming 3 years,” he was quoted as saying.
“The threat of Naxalism is not limited to remote areas only. Many front organizations have been formed. They are trying to shake the faith in the Constitution through an ecosystem. Many of these organizations try to rescue the arrested Naxalites. They create a safe haunt for them,” he added.
In the given case, it is said that the 11 Naxals who have surrendered before Maharashtra CM will be offered monetary assistance from the state for rehabilitation. These were carrying a collective bounty of Rs 1.03 crore and were involved in attacking security personnel.
Notably, the most prominent among the surrendered Maoists was Dandkaranya Zonal Committee Member Vimla Chandra Sidam alias Tarakka. Tarakka had been involved in the Naxalism movement for the past 38 years. Maharashtra CM meanwhile also felicitated C-60 commandos and officers for bravery in anti-Naxal operations.
“Maharashtra will soon become free of Naxal menace given the rise in the number of Maoists laying down their arms and the movement failing to attract recruits,” he noted.