Bastar sees record Maoist surrenders, sharp fall in violence in 2025 as security footprint expands | Raipur News
RAIPUR: Bastar witnessed its most decisive shift in four decades of Left-Wing Extremism in 2025, with Maoist surrenders surging to 1,562, fatalities crossing 256, arrests touching 884, and security forces seizing 645 firearms and 875 IEDs — a historic high. Coupled with 52 new security camps and shrinking encounter numbers, the year marks what police describe as a “watershed collapse of Maoist operational space” across south Chhattisgarh. According to the Bastar police action & outcome report 2025, sustained intelligence-based operations, expansion of security infrastructure deep inside insurgency-hit interiors, and a parallel push for rehabilitation campaign combined to sharply weaken Maoist networks across the Bastar range.Police-Maoist encounters fell to 99 incidents in 2025 from 123 in 2024, even as the number of Maoists neutralised rose to 256, many were from affected interior blocks where Maoist influence had historically been deeply entrenched. The police attribute this to sustained outreach, legal support, rehabilitation benefits, and increasingly “untenable conditions” within Maoist ranks.Weapons Recoveries Hit New Record; IED Hauls Spike 3XArrests remained high at 884, while recoveries of weapons surged to 645 firearms, more than double the previous year. Security forces seized 645 weapons in 2025 — more than double the 286 seized in 2024, including rifles, LMGs, carbines, 9mm pistols, shotguns, rocket launchers and country-made weapons.In one of the most significant indicators of weakening Maoist logistics, 875 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered — a sharp rise from 308 in 2024. Bastar range IGP P Sundarraj noted that it reflects a collapse of Maoist supply lines and reduced access to explosives.A major shift came through the rehabilitation route, IG sai. Under Puna Margeim, 1,562 Maoists renounced violence in 2025, nearly double the 792 surrenders recorded in 2024, besides, several senior and central committee-level Maoist leaders either surrendered or were eliminated during the year, weakening organisational cohesion across Bastar and neighbouring border districts.According to police, the security footprint widened significantly with the establishment of 52 new forward security camps across Bijapur, Narayanpur and Sukma districts—up from 30 camps in 2024. Each camp has been developed as an integrated development centre, facilitating access to roads, electricity, healthcare, public distribution system services, banking and schooling in previously cut-off villages.Decisive Blows to Maoist LeadershipThe list shows 16 key Maoist leaders — from Central Committee Members (CCMs) to ‘Dandakarnaya Special Zonal Committee’ commanders, killed across Bastar and adjoining border regions. These include:General Secretary BasvarajuCCM Narsimha Chala, Ram Chandra Reddy DKSZCM Sudhakar, Jagdeesh, Renuka
