Surrendered Naxalites Hold Tricolour For First Time On Independence Day In MP’s Balaghat
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Naxalites who surrendered after a long period of armed insurgency became the part of the Independence Day celebrations in Balaghat on Saturday. For the first time, they held the Tricolour with respect and honour. On the occasion, more than 20 surrendered Naxalites in the state hold the national flag in their hands. The Naxalites who surrendered in MP last year are…
On Independence Day in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, 20 surrendered Naxalites held the Tricolour with respect for the first time. These Naxalites, who had been part of the armed insurgency, are currently residing in a camp in Balaghat under police protection. On November 1, 2025, Sunita, a female Naxalite with a Rs 14 lakh reward, was the first to surrender.
Other Naxalites who surrendered included Kabir alias Surendra Soma, Rakesh Odi alias Manish, and eight others, all members of the Bhoramdev Area Committee. The 13 Naxalites held the national flag and sang the national anthem at a special event organized at the camp, attended by police officials. This marked their first celebration of Independence Day since surrendering.
Balaghat and Mandla districts, bordering Chhattisgarh, were considered Naxal strongholds until they were declared Naxal-free in December 2025. For nearly 35 years, local residents had feared celebrating national festivals or hoisting the Tricolour.
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