Maoists prefer Telangana to lay down arms; will Chhattisgarh's new surrender scheme change the trend

Anti-Moist op (file photo)

Over the past several years, Maoists from Chhattisgarh have been bypassing local state authorities and choosing to surrender in Telangana. In 2025 alone, 99% of the 247 Maoist cadres who surrendered in Telangana were originally from Chhattisgarh.

Acknowledging this trend, the Chhattisgarh government has introduced a generous new surrender and rehabilitation scheme aimed at encouraging Maoists to give up arms within their home state. The recent surrender of 22 Maoists in Chhattisgarh is being attributed to the appeal of the state’s lucrative new package.

In Telangana, attracted by the state government's rehabilitation policies for surrendered Maoists, more members of the banned group have been giving up arms. In the past two and a half months, 122 Maoist party members have surrendered before the Bhadradri Kothagudem district police.

So, why are they still picking Telangana?

For many, it has been about safety. With 140 alleged Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh so far in 2025, many prefer the comparatively safer surrender route in Telangana.

Telangana’s surrender policy is another big draw. The state offers Rs 25,000 immediately to every surrendered Maoist. A state committee member gets Rs 8 lakh, area committee members get Rs 4 lakh, party members receive Rs 1 lakh, and militia members get Rs 25,000.

But now, Chhattisgarh is trying to turn the tide. On April 10, it officially launched the 'Naxalite Surrender, Victim Relief, and Rehabilitation Policy 2025', packed with benefits — Rs 50,000 in immediate cash, Rs 10,000 monthly for three years, land allotment (either a 1,742 sq ft urban plot or a hectare of farmland in rural areas), skill training, and a promise of full rehabilitation within 120 days of surrender.

A day after this policy was announced, 22 Maoists — including three ACMs — from Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district surrendered, but interestingly, they still chose to do so in Telangana’s Mulugu district. This happened despite the fact that Telangana no longer offers land or long-term support like Chhattisgarh does.

Back-to-back surrenders in January, March and April this year — all mostly involving Maoists from Chhattisgarh — show that the preference for Telangana remains strong. But with Chhattisgarh now stepping up its support, that trend might just start to shift.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated several times that the Centre is determined to eliminate the Maoist movement by March 2026, intensifying operations in the red zone.