In a major development against left-wing extremism, 11 Maoists surrendered to the Gondia district police in Maharashtra, including a senior commander of the Maharashtra–Madhya Pradesh–Chhattisgarh (MMC) zone. The surrender took place during a special camp in Nagpur, in the presence of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ankit Goyal.
Among those who surrendered is Vinod Sayanna, also known by multiple aliases including Anant, Vikas, Ramesh Sayanna, Bhaskar Lingavya, and Ramaswamy. He is regarded as one of the most significant MMC figures to lay down arms in recent years. Other surrendered cadres include divisional committee members, area committee members, and Anant Squad members who were active in the Darrekasa forests and surrounding Gondia–Balaghat–Rajnandgaon belt for years.
Maharashtra Police confirmed that the surrendered Maoists handed over an extensive arsenal, including AK-47, SLR, INSAS, and .303 rifles, along with magazines, rounds, and detonators. Many of the cadres carried individual government rewards ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh, while the combined reward for all 11 cadres was ₹89 lakh.
Officials credited the state’s surrender and rehabilitation policy, introduced in 2005, for encouraging senior cadres to give up arms. The program provides financial assistance, livelihood support, and reintegration measures. So far, 37 Maoists have surrendered in Gondia district under this initiative.
DIG Ankit Goyal said, “This surrender marks a significant setback for Maoist influence in the MMC zone and will weaken their mobility and recruitment capabilities.” The surrendered cadres will now undergo rehabilitation under government guidelines, further contributing to the state’s anti-Maoist efforts.
This event underscores the effectiveness of combined law enforcement and rehabilitation strategies in curbing left-wing extremism in Maharashtra.
