Maharashtra turns Maoist-free, last rebels taken out in 100-hour operation

NAGPUR: Maharashtra delivered a knockout blow to Maoist insurgency, effectively wiping out guerrilla presence in Gadchiroli district in a 100-hour coordinated action this week, leaving zero active Maoists in police records. This comes 45 days after Union home minister Amit Shah's March 31 deadline to eradicate left-wing extremism in the country. The last four standing members of the Maoists' military wing, Company 10, were taken out of their hideouts while two members of the dreaded ‘dalam' surrendered before police.

The crackdown on the guerrillas was carried out in a decisive operation codenamed — Antim Prahar — that carried out eight arrests and five surrenders over a four-day span. The eight arrested guerrillas and five surrendered rebels carried a collective bounty of ₹1 crore announced by Maharashtra govt.



"Gadchiroli is now officially Maoist-free on police records," said the SP Gadchiroli, M Ramesh. Senior officials described the day as "the end of Maoist insurgency" in Maharashtra.

Besides dismantling Company 10, Gadchiroli police and CRPF jawans conducted an inter-state operation and nabbed four Maoists at Rukmapur railway station in Telangana's Vikarabad district on May 12-13. The quartet of Jayaram Gawde, Mukesh alias Lachu Avalam, Vijay Hunga Tamo and Rajita alias Shambatti Madavi were involved in the Feb 7 Fodewada jungle ambush that killed a C-60 commando.

Further raids on May 14 in Kumner and Naitala villages in Gadchiroli led to the arrest of another four top guerrillas, including divisional committee member Raju alias Mangdu Veko and his wife, Janni along with Jyoti alias Samita Potavi and Amati alias Sandhya Idma Podiyam.

The operation yielded a cache of 51 arms and ammunition — two light machine guns, four AK-47s, four self-loading rifles, three INSAS rifles, multiple .303 and 12-bore guns, barrel grenade launchers, hundreds of live rounds and detonators. The seizures from jungle hideouts of Phodewada, Gundenur and Naitala included ₹65 lakh in cash, dealing a crippling financial and logistical blow to the outfit.

Also, five senior Maoists, including a couple, laid down guns. They were identified as Madhu alias Bajirao Welda (divisional committee member), his wife Rajani alias Durga (area committee member), Jivan alias Jaggu (party committee member), Mangli Kursam and Laxmi Punem.

Post-surrender, they will receive rehabilitation packages, including ₹8.5 lakh for Madhu and ₹5 lakh each for others, along with additional incentives for the couple and group.

"These successes build on the momentum generated by the historic Oct 2025 mass surrender of 61 Maoists, led by senior Maoist, Bhupati," said SP Gadchiroli M Ramesh.

Gadchiroli SP Ramesh led by Special IGP Sandeep Patil, DIG Yogesh Kumar and senior CRPF officers including Ajay Kumar Sharma, orchestrated the operations. "No shots were fired during the arrests, underlining the forces' professional restraint," said Ramesh.

"This comprehensive victory in Maharashtra is expected to accelerate the final eradication of Left-Wing Extremism from remaining affected areas across the country," said IGP Patil.