Two dreaded Maoists, Papa Rao and Sukru, have laid down their weapons as the fight against left-wing terrorism approaches its conclusion within a few days, on the 31st of March. On 24th March (Tuesday), Rao, the final senior Maoist commander in Bastar who carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh, surrendered in Bijapur together with 17 cadres comprising 8 women alongside AK-47 assault rifles and other weapons.
He is booked in 45 cases and has been considered the man behind the Tadmetla massacre in April 2010, which claimed the lives of 76 CRPF soldiers, and the Ambeli IED incident in January 2025, which killed 8 security personnel and a civilian driver in south Bastar, reported The Times of India.
Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma, who also serves as the home minister of the state, said, “This will be the last Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC)-level leader, to undergo rehabilitation with his entire team. Technically, with Rao’s rehabilitation, we can say that within Chhattisgarh there is no cadre left of this level, or even below this level, in armed formation.”
“I have spoken with Rao. Out of his team of 21 members, 12 to 14 are surrendering with weapons, including six AK-47s,” he noted, reported The Indian Express. On the other hand, Bastar range IGP P Sundarraj declared, “It is for the first time in the history of Maoist movement in Dandakaranya, the outfit has effectively become leaderless in Bastar.”
He further conveyed, “Rao as a member of DKSZC and and in-charge of the south sub-zonal bureau/west Bastar division. He is also known by several aliases, including Sunam Chandraya, Mangu Dada and Chandranna and was active for nearly 25 years. DKSZC handles Maoist activities in the Bastar division and parts of adjoining states, is considered the strongest formation of the outlawed outfit and had been instrumental in executing several deadly attacks on security forces in the past two decades.”
“The Prime Minister and Home Minister have a strong will. The Home Minister’s deadline of 31st March is very close, so it’s a good thing that Papa Rao is surrendering,” Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated, while reacting to the development. South and West Bastar might now be deemed free from Maoists, according to the administration.
On the same day, Odisha’s most wanted Maoist leader, Sukru alias Kosha Sodhi, who had a bounty of Rs 55 lakh on his head, and 4 other individuals turned themselves in to the Kandhamal police. He also handed over an AK-47. “With the surrender of Sukru, the number of active Maoists in Odisha is now in the single digit. I appeal to the remaining red rebels to surrender soon and take advantage of the state government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy,” outlined ADG (anti-naxal operation), Sanjeeb Panda.
The 49-year-old is from Malkangiri district and was a member of the state committee of the proscribed CPI (Maoist). He oversaw a small band of about 13 men, the majority of whom were from Chhattisgarh and were primarily active in the Kandhamal district. He had grown to be a significant obstacle for surrenders and is accused of killing his junior Anwesh, who wanted to leave the violent movement, in January. The latter was a military platoon commander and member of the divisional committee. The body was then buried in the jungle by Sukru with the aid of his associates.
A massive operation was underway to catch him for multiple days as he had been taking cover in the dense forest areas around the Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Rayagada border. Security forces, comprising special units, had stepped up combing operations utilising drone surveillance. According to reports, he was in charge of a new group called “Eighth Company,” which suggested efforts to restructure Maoist activity in the area.
On 23rd March (Monday), the assembly was informed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi that there are now only 15 active Maoists in Odisha, down from 40 in only one month. Additionally, he emphasised that by 15th March, 96 Maoists and militia members had laid down weapons. The state’s Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania also announced, “We are confident of meeting the 31st March deadline to eradicate the Naxal problem from Odisha.”
