NEW DELHI: Indian government officials have said the surrender of a senior Maoist guerrilla commander heralds the “final phase” to end the decades-long Maoist insurgency.
New Delhi has launched an all-out campaign against the insurgents, also known as Naxalites after the village in the Himalayan foothills where the Maoist-inspired insurgency began nearly six decades ago, and vowed to end the rebellion by the end of March.
Maoist commander Thippiri Tirupati, also known as Devji, had been active for years in Chattisgarh state.
“This is the final phase,” Chattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said in a statement posted on social media late Sunday.
“It marks a powerful step toward the complete eradication of armed Naxalism.”
