PM Modi lauds Maharashtra govt after 11 Naxalites surrender in Gadchiroli

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the Maharashtra government’s efforts to ensure all-round development in remote and Maoist-affected areas of the state.

This comes after 11 Naxalites, who carried a bounty of more than Rs 1 crore surrendered before the police in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli.

PM Modi further extended greetings to the locals, stating that this incident will certainly boost ‘Ease of Living’ and pave the way for even more progress in the region.

Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “I laud the Maharashtra Government’s efforts to ensure all-round development in remote and Maoist-affected areas. This will certainly boost ‘Ease of Living’ and pave the way for even more progress. A special congratulations to my sisters and brothers of Gadchiroli and the surrounding areas!”

On Wednesday, as many as 11 Naxalites, including Vimla Chandra Sidam alias Tarakka, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore, surrendered before the police in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli.

The 11 Naxalites, including 8 women and 3 men, surrendered at Gadchiroli Police Headquarters. They had bounties totalling more than Rs 1 crore on their heads. Moreover, the Chhattisgarh government had also announced a bounty on them.

Among the surrendered was Tarakka Sidam, the head of the Dandakaranya Zonal Committee and wife of Bhupati, who had been involved in Naxalism for 34 years.

The surrendered Naxalites included three division committee members, one deputy commander, and two area committee members. Each of them was provided with a financial aid package worth Rs 86 lakh to support their new lives.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was present during the surrender, expressed confidence that Naxalism would soon be eradicated from the state.

CM Fadnavis also visited the Pengunda Police Help Center in Gadchiroli.

Speaking to ANI, CM Fadnavis highlighted the transformation of the Gadchiroli region, saying, “This area of Gadchiroli, where we are standing, did not even have a road, and the Maoists had complete dominance here. Today, ending that dominance, we have built two big posts and constructed a road and bridge connecting directly to Chhattisgarh.”

He added, “In a way, after 75 years, the people here will get to see the state transport bus. Therefore, I believe that this is a very important day. We had said that Gadchiroli will not be the last district of Maharashtra, it will be the first district of Maharashtra and we have started that. Now the Maoists do not find new people here, there is no recruitment. Big cadres are surrendering, so it is heading towards an end.”