<![CDATA[New Delhi: As per the ministry, till June 30 this year, 424 Maoists surrendered before various law enforcement agencies across the country. Last year, the figure had reached 1,442, but in 2015 it was just 570 and in 2014 it was 676. The government's major focus in Chhattisgarh comes after the deadliest Maoist ambush in April, when 26 of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel died in Sukma area. It was well-planned massacre carried out by nearly 300 Maoists. This year, in Chhattisgarh, 298 naxals surrendered, followed by Jharkhand with 38 surrenders and Andhra Pradesh 35. In West Bengal 11 surrendered, in Telangana and Bihar 2 each, in Odisha 27 and Maharashtra 7. Last year, the maximum numbers of naxals' surrender was from Chhattisgarh — 1,198, followed by Odisha with 63 and Maharashtra, 54. In Andhra Pradesh 46, Bihar 22, Jharkhand 40, Telangana 16 and West Bengal 1 naxals surrendered. The government's major concern is that the naxals, who have been largely active in Chhattisgarh region, are expanding their region and making a new Red Zone along the western border of the state. "The new Maoist corridor is said to cover the forest pockets in Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh, Gondia district in Maharashtra and Rajnandgaona and Mungeli districts of Chhattisgarh," said a senior officer. Also the Home Ministry has directed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) engaged in a significant manner in anti-Naxal operations with close to 40 battalions of the paramilitary deployed in Chhattisgarh alone to overhaul the command set up and re-strategies to end the naxal menace and also facilitate as much surrender as they can. According to the ministry report, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand together accounted for 68.5 per cent of the violent incidents and 69 per cent of deaths. Bihar followed by Odisha and Maharashtra accounted for 12.3 per cent, 8.2 per cent 6.9 per cent incidents. Also the Centre has asked to expedite the cases against the naxals arrested in various cases and operations.]]>
