Eleven Maoists, including a senior leader, surrendered in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who spent New Year’s Day in Gadchiroli.
The group, comprising eight women and three men, included two couples and carried rewards exceeding ₹1 crore in Maharashtra. Chhattisgarh authorities had also announced bounties for them. Among the surrendered was Tarakka, a 34-year veteran of the Maoist movement and leader of the Dandakaranya Zonal Committee.
The Maharashtra government has provided ₹86 lakh in financial aid to facilitate their rehabilitation. Fadnavis highlighted the success of anti-Maoist operations, noting that 24 Maoists were killed, 18 arrested, and 27 surrendered in the last year. He praised local efforts in curbing Maoist influence, particularly in northern Gadchiroli, which he declared free of Maoist activity.
He added that in the past four years, no youth or girl from the area had joined the movement and credited this progress to the efforts of C-60 commandos and increasing trust in constitutional governance.
Fadnavis inaugurated a series of developmental projects in Gadchiroli, aimed at transforming the region’s economic and social landscape. These included industrial plants, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. He also launched a green mining initiative to promote sustainable practices and announced plans for Gondwana University to collaborate with an Australian university to offer mining-related courses. These projects, with a total investment of ₹6,200 crore, are expected to generate over 4,000 jobs.
The chief minister traveled to remote villages, interacting with residents and security personnel while inaugurating infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges.
Emphasizing the government’s commitment to development and peace, Fadnavis expressed confidence in Gadchiroli’s transformation into a “Steel City,” ensuring a brighter future for the region.
(IANS)
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