Two major encounters in Chhattisgarh killed 14 Maoists, while top commander Barsa Deva surrendered in Telangana, prompting state police to claim the upper hand against Naxalism. Additional DGP Vivekanand Sinha stated that the Naxal problem will end before the March 2026 deadline. Telangana police view the surrender as crippling the Maoist military wing.
Amid the final push against insurgency in Chhattisgarh, state police claimed that security forces have gained the upper hand over Maoists. The assertion came on a day marked by two significant developments: encounters in Sukma and Bijapur districts that killed 14 Maoists, and the surrender of Barsa Deva, a top commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion 1, in Telangana.
Chhattisgarh Additional Director General of Police (Naxal operations) Vivekanand Sinha told The Indian Express, “Naxal problem will end. We are in a very good position and have the upper hand. The morale of our forces is very high. We appeal to those still holding arms to drop their weapons and return to the mainstream.”
The surrender occurred two months before the Centre's March 2026 deadline to eradicate Naxalism, set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in August 2024. The Maoist movement suffered major setbacks in 2025, including the killing of general secretary Basava Raju in May and Battalion 1 commander Hidma in November. Police reported that 10 Central Committee members, including Hidma, were gunned down that year.
Barsa Deva, alias Badse Sukka from Puwarti village in Sukma, shared the same origins as Hidma. After Hidma's death, Deva assumed leadership of Battalion 1. Telangana DGP B Shivadhar Reddy stated that with Hidma's killing and Deva's surrender, “there is no one else to carry forward violent Maoist activities.” Deva, with a bounty of ₹75 lakh, was involved in attacks including the 2013 Sukma ambush on Congress leaders.
Over 500 Maoists have been killed since the anti-insurgency campaign began in 2024. In 2024-2025, there were 223 encounters resulting in 473 Maoists killed, 1,827 arrested, and 2,365 surrendered. Authorities established 88 police camps. However, 42 security personnel died in IED blasts, and 117 civilians were killed in Maoist violence.
