258 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra in two days; Abujhmarh and North Bastar declared free of Naxal terror
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on 16 October 2025 that 258 Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra over two days, and that Abujhmarh and North Bastar in Chhattisgarh had been declared free of Naxal terror.
Summary
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on 16 October 2025 that 258 Naxalites had surrendered in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra over two days: 170 in Chhattisgarh on 16 October, and 27 in Chhattisgarh and 61 in Maharashtra on 15 October. They included 10 senior operatives, among them Satish alias T. Vasudeo Rao, a Central Committee Member who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, and they handed over automatic weapons including AK-47, INSAS and SLR rifles. Shah said Abujhmarh and North Bastar in Chhattisgarh, once terror bases, had been declared free of Naxal terror, with only a trace remaining in South Bastar. He said that since January 2024, 2,100 Naxalites had surrendered in Chhattisgarh, 1,785 had been arrested and 477 eliminated, in line with the goal of ending Naxalism before 31 March 2026.
Key facts
- Surrenders
- 258 in two days — 170 (CG, 16 Oct); 27 (CG) + 61 (MH) on 15 Oct
- Senior cadre
- Satish alias T. Vasudeo Rao (CCM), Rs 1 crore reward; 10 senior operatives
- Declared free
- Abujhmarh and North Bastar (Chhattisgarh)
- Remaining
- Trace in South Bastar
- CG since Jan 2024
- 2,100 surrendered; 1,785 arrested; 477 eliminated
- Deadline
- 31 March 2026
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to Amit Shah on 16 October 2025, how many Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra over two days?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 258
PIB: 258 Naxalites surrendered in two days — 170 in Chhattisgarh on 16 October, and 27 in Chhattisgarh and 61 in Maharashtra the day before.
Which areas of Chhattisgarh did the Union Home Minister say on 16 October 2025 had been declared free of Naxal terror?
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Correct answer: D — Abujhmarh and North Bastar
PIB: Abujhmarh and North Bastar in Chhattisgarh, once terror bases, were declared free of Naxal terror; a trace remains in South Bastar.
Consider the following statements based on the Home Minister's statement of 16 October 2025: 1. Those who surrendered included Satish alias T. Vasudeo Rao, a Central Committee Member carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore. 2. Since January 2024, 2,100 Naxalites have surrendered, 1,785 have been arrested and 477 eliminated in Chhattisgarh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per PIB: T. Vasudeo Rao (CCM) carried a Rs 1 crore reward; since January 2024 in Chhattisgarh, 2,100 surrendered, 1,785 were arrested and 477 eliminated.