IN BALAGHAT, the last remaining hardcore Naxalite, Deepak, surrendered on December 11 in Korkha, in the Birsa area, along with his associate Rohit. With this surrender, Balaghat district has officially become Naxal-free. Naxal ASP, Adarshkant Shukla stated that a reward of Rs 29 lakh had been announced for Deepak and Rs 14 lakh for Rohit.

 

Both reached the Korkha camp, laid down their arms, and expressed their desire for rehabilitation. Balaghat district has been affected by Naxalism since the 1990s. The Union Home Ministry had set a deadline of March 2026 to make the country Naxal-free, but Balaghat has achieved this goal ahead of schedule. Deepak and Rohit surrendered under the State Government’s rehabilitation scheme.

 

They have been assured of financial assistance, skill development training, and social reintegration under the existing policy. This process of Naxalites surrendering in the district began on November 1 with the surrender of female Naxalite Sunita. Following this, on the night of December 6, approximately 10 other Naxalites also surrendered to the police in Balaghat.

 

Earlier, Sangeeta, a Naxalite from the district, had surrendered in Gondia, and Sampat had surrendered in Chhattisgarh, returning to the mainstream.