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Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma connected Wednesday (March 25, 2026) said that 96% of the Bastar region was escaped from Maoism and that lone 30 to 40 cadres were surviving successful the distant areas.
Mr. Sharma made the remarks astatine a programme held successful the aftermath of the surrender of Maoist commandant Papa Rao.
“In the existent scenario, nary progressive Maoist of the DKZSC (Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee) fertile remains successful Chhattisgarh; lone a constricted fig of Naxals — estimated astatine 30 to 40 — past successful the distant regions of the northbound and south, and prospects for their speedy rehabilitation person been expressed,” helium said.
Mr. Sharma besides said that astir 400 information camps established successful the interior regions of Bastar would beryllium phased retired and converted into improvement centres. “In the future, these camps volition relation arsenic constabulary stations, schools, hospitals, and centres for the postulation and processing of insignificant wood produce, thereby providing section residents with improved opportunities for education, healthcare, and employment, and strengthening the instauration for sustainable improvement successful the region,” helium said.
Meanwhile, successful a property note, the Bastar Police said that Papa Rao and 17 others — carrying a corporate reward of ₹87 lakh — shunned unit and joined the mainstream.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P. Sundarraj said that information forces recovered 18 weapons, including AK-47 rifles, SLRs, INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, a 9 mm pistol, a BGL launcher, and ₹12 lakh in currency from the surrendered cadres.
The property enactment stated that Papa Rao was besides known by the aliases Ashok, Sunnam Chandrayya, and Mangu, and his relation with the Maoist question dated backmost to 1997. “A South sub-zonal bureau caput (SZCM), helium held cardinal operational roles in Bastar,” the enactment said. He had been successful complaint of the Pamed-Usur Area Committee and, from 2018, handled operations successful West Bastar. He carried a bounty of ₹25 lakh and was equipped with an AK-47 rifle, the enactment added.
