CM Fadnavis Visits Remote Kawande Village on Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh Border12 Notorious Naxalites Surrender with Weapons

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday visited Kawande, a remote and heavily Naxal-affected village on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, becoming the first CM to do so. In a significant breakthrough, 12 wanted Naxalites — carrying rewards worth crores — surrendered with weapons in his presence, marking a first-of-its-kind event.

Earlier in Gadchiroli, a mass wedding ceremony was held for 13 previously surrendered Naxalites. CM Fadnavis personally attended and extended his best wishes to the newlyweds. In the evening, he felicitated C-60 commandos, handed over advanced AK-103 rifles, ASMIs (indigenous pistols), and bulletproof jackets, and praised their bravery.

The state government has procured 19 four-wheelers, including bulletproof vehicles, under the District Planning and Development Fund, and the CM formally handed over the keys to the police department.

During the visit, CM Fadnavis was accompanied by Minister of State for Finance & Planning Ashish Jaiswal, MLAs Dharamraobaba Atram and Dr. Milind Narote, DIG Ankit Goyal, District Collector Avishant Panda, and SP Nilotpal.

Saluting C-60 Commandos

Speaking at the C-60 felicitation, CM Fadnavis said, “I visited the Kawande outpost and interacted with locals. In just 24 hours, our police built this outpost — a symbol of taking governance to the people. Over the past two years, six such outposts have been established. In the last 18 months alone, 28 Maoists were killed, 31 arrested, and 44 surrendered — a record success.”

He noted that many of those surrendering had huge bounties on their heads and are now returning to mainstream life. “Our fight against Naxalism is in its final phase. In Kawande, our commandos executed complex operations, even swimming to islands to neutralize hiding Naxals. The goal is to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026. With Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s tough decisions, this is now within reach.”

The 12 Naxalites who surrendered had a total bounty of over ₹1 crore. They surrendered with modern arms and were presented with copies of the Indian Constitution. Corporate groups like Lloyd are actively aiding in their rehabilitation.

Winds of Change in Naxal Zones – Gadchiroli to Become an Industrial Hub

At a beneficiary convention in the remote Naxal-hit Kawande region bordering Telangana, CM Fadnavis directly addressed citizens. He declared the state’s firm resolve to make Gadchiroli Naxal-free and industrially empowered.

He emphasized that governance has started to reach citizens directly, leading to growing public trust — the essence of people-centric development. Camps under the ‘Dhartibaba Abhiyan’ were recently held at Kawande, Neligunda, and Pengunda, where 987 benefits were distributed to 533 beneficiaries under various schemes.

CM Fadnavis personally handed out benefits under schemes like Ayushman Bharat, PM Awas Yojana, Food Security, PM-KISAN, MGNREGA job cards, screening for anemia, Aadhaar updates, and caste certificates. Officials from Revenue, Health, Agriculture, Social Justice, Panchayati Raj, Women and Child Welfare, Forest, Police, and Tribal Development departments actively participated.

Drone Survey of Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh Inter-State Bridge

To improve connectivity and deliver basic amenities to Naxal-affected regions, the interstate bridge over the Korma stream is a crucial infrastructure project. CM Fadnavis conducted a drone survey of the bridge and stressed the government’s commitment to delivering development while preserving nature, water, land, and forests.

The bridge, under construction on State Highway 380, spans 120 meters over the Korma stream and will facilitate direct transport between Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. The project has received technical sanction worth ₹10.7 crore, and the CM has directed the Public Works Department to complete it swiftly.

Once completed, this bridge will enable easier transport even to the remotest villages of Gadchiroli, and ensure that government services and development programs reach every corner effectively.Tools