Guns & roses: 210 Maoists surrender in Abujhmad, CM says 'historic day', Pg14.

Key Highlights:

• 210 Maoists surrendered in Abujhmad, Chhattisgarh, handing over 153 weapons including AK47s and INSAS rifles.
• Takkalappalli Vasudeva Rao, alias Rupesh, a key Maoist leader and bombmaker, was among those who surrendered.
• The surrender took place in Jagdalpur city of Bastar district, in the presence of senior police and paramilitary officers.
• Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai termed it a “historic day for India,” stating that Naxalism in the area is almost over.

Detailed Insights:

• Abujhmad, a large unsurveyed forest area, served as a Maoist stronghold for four decades, witnessing extensive violence.
• Stepped-up anti-Maoist operations since 2024 have resulted in over 100 Maoists being killed in and around Abujhmad.
• The state government has decided against extending the ban on the Moolvasi Bachao Manch, a group fighting for tribal rights.
• The government will rehabilitate surrendered Maoists, allowing those who wish to join the District Reserve Guard (DRG).
• Maoists demanded the release of jailed members and raised concerns about tribal displacement due to development projects.
• Other demands included the proper implementation of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and tribal ownership in mines.
• The Maoists also requested bringing Abujhmad under Schedule 6 of the Constitution, granting autonomy to tribal areas.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Naxalism: A form of radical communism, originating in India, that typically involves violent insurgency.
• PESA Act: An Act to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to the scheduled areas.
• Rehabilitation Policy: Government strategies to reintegrate surrendered extremists into mainstream society.