Senior Maoist leader Paparao surrenders in Chhattisgarh with 17 cadres
HYDERABAD: Senior Maoist leader Paparao, the last active commander in the Bastar region, surrendered along with 17 other cadres in Bijapur district, the Chhattisgarh police said on Tuesday.
Paparao, who carried a ₹25 lakh reward, was a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and led the South Sub Zonal Bureau.
Among the 18 Maoists who surrendered are divisional committee members Prakash Madvi and Anil Tati.
Bastar police said the cadres agreed to abandon violence and join the mainstream. They called it a “decisive breakthrough” in efforts to remove Maoist influence from the region.
Officials said this development brings the goal of a Naxal-free Bastar closer to reality. For the first time, the Dandakaranya region has no effective leadership in the organisation.
“This marks a decisive success in our sustained efforts to end Left Wing Extremism in the region,” the statement added. Authorities hope the remaining cadres, scattered in small groups, will also surrender.
Police will carry out the formal reintegration process for the surrendered Maoists subsequently.
