Eleven top naxal commander leaders, including a senior woman commander, surrendered before Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Gadchiroli. These surrendered Naxalites carried bounties exceeding ₹1 crore, signalling a significant step towards peace and development in the region.
Vimala Sidam’s 34-Year Journey as Naxal Commander
Among the surrendered was 62-year-old Vimala Chandra Sidam, alias Tarakka, a key figure in the Dandkaranya Special Zonal Committee. Tarakka had a ₹25 lakh bounty on her head and was implicated in 66 criminal cases. Inducted into the Naxal movement in 1986, she rose to prominence, participating in 35 encounters with security forces. Her surrender marks the end of a 34-year association with the insurgent ideology.
The Surrendered Group’s Role In Naxal Activities
The group, which included eight women and three men, collectively had over ₹1 crore in bounties. Together, they were involved in more than 200 cases in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Their surrender underscores the success of the government’s rehabilitation and peace initiatives.
Government’s Efforts Toward Peace
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised the region’s progress, stating that North Gadchiroli is now free of Naxal activity, with South Gadchiroli on a similar trajectory. At the surrender event, Fadnavis distributed rehabilitation kits, highlighting the state’s commitment to reintegrating former Naxalites into society.
He also emphasized the region’s transformation, announcing that Gadchiroli would soon be recognized as a steel city. Stressing constitutional justice, he remarked, “Justice can only be achieved through the Constitution, not through Maoist ideology.”
Boosting Anti-Naxal Operations
The event saw the inauguration of a helicopter hangar for the police, the distribution of vehicles, and the felicitation of C-60 commandos for their pivotal role in combating Naxalism. Fadnavis also noted that in the past four years, no youth from the region had joined the Maoist movement, with eleven villages now banning Naxal activities.
This mass surrender is a testament to the success of Maharashtra’s developmental policies and a milestone in eradicating Naxal influence from the state.