Last Active Maoist Commander in Chhattisgarh Surrenders with Cadres

In a significant development, Papa Rao, the last active Maoist commander in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, has surrendered along with 17 other cadres. This event marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to end Maoism in the area, especially as it comes just before a government deadline aimed at resolving the conflict. Rao's surrender, along with other key Maoists, indicates a potential shift towards a Maoist-free Bastar, as the region now faces a leadership vacuum for the first time in its Maoist history. The implications of this surrender could reshape the dynamics of the conflict in Chhattisgarh.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 25, 2026, 09:57 IST

Maoist Leader's Surrender Marks a Turning Point

Papa Rao, considered the final active Maoist commander in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, surrendered on Tuesday along with 17 other members in Bijapur district, according to local police reports.

Rao, affiliated with the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee and overseeing the South Sub Zonal Bureau of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh on his head.

This surrender occurs just a week prior to the March 31 deadline established by the Union government aimed at resolving the Maoist conflict.

Among those who surrendered with Rao were divisional committee members Prakash Madvi and Anil Tati, as reported by local authorities.

The police in Bastar indicated that these 18 individuals have committed to renouncing violence and reintegrating into society, marking a significant advancement in the ongoing efforts to eradicate Maoism in the area.

This development is seen as a clear indication that the aspiration for a Maoist-free Bastar is gradually becoming a reality, with the region now lacking effective leadership for the first time in the history of the Maoist movement.

Rao, estimated to be between 55 and 60 years old, is a school dropout who joined the Maoist ranks in 1997. He is believed to have orchestrated numerous attacks over the years.

He faced 45 criminal cases, including his involvement in the notorious Tadmetla attack in 2010, which resulted in the deaths of 76 security personnel, as stated by Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jeetendra Kumar Yadav.

Additionally, he was implicated in a Maoist assault in Bijapur’s Ambeli in January 2025, where eight security forces and a civilian driver lost their lives.

Vivekanand Sinha, the additional director general for naxal operations, remarked that Rao was the last significant Naxal leader remaining in Chhattisgarh.

Since 2014, more than 10,000 Maoist cadres have surrendered nationwide. In 2025 alone, 2,300 laid down their arms, with over 630 doing so in the first quarter of 2026.

In February, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs reported a reduction in districts affected by Left-wing extremism, now down to eight from eleven in October.

These districts include Bijapur, Dantewada, Gariyaband, Kanker, Narayanpur, and Sukma in Chhattisgarh, as well as West Singhbhum in Jharkhand and Kandhamal in Odisha.

During the Union government’s anti-Maoist campaign in 2025, several key leaders, including Ganesh Uike and Madvi Hidma, were killed, while others like Vikas Nagpure and Mallojula Venugopal Rao have surrendered.

Concerns have been raised by civil liberties organizations and opposition parties regarding the circumstances surrounding the deaths of some Maoists, alleging instances of 'fake encounters.'

Another Maoist Leader Surrenders in Odisha

In a related development, Maoist leader Sukru, who had a reward of Rs 55 lakh on his head, surrendered along with four other cadres in Kandhamal district, as reported by the Director General of Police YB Khurania.

Khurania noted that Sukru, a state committee member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), surrendered with an AK-47 rifle. He was regarded as one of the last active Maoist leaders in Odisha.