Jagdalpur, Oct. 17 -- In a landmark development in Chhattisgarh's battle against Left Wing Extremism (LWE), 208 Naxalites surrendered at an event organised in Bastar's Jagdalpur on Friday, holding the Indian Constitution as they were welcomed back into the mainstream.

According to officials, the surrendered group includes 110 women and 98 men, representing various ranks of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) organisation. Among them are one Central Committee Member (CCM), four Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) members, one Regional Committee Member, 21 Divisional Committee Members (DVCMs), 61 Area Committee Members (ACMs), 98 Party Members, and 22 PLGA/RPC/other cadres.

Among the top Maoist leaders who laid down arms were Rupesh alias ...