52 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur
Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): As many as 52 Naxalites, 49 of them carrying a collective bounty of over Rs 1.41 crore, surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday, a senior official said.
The surrendered cadres, including 21 women, were active in Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), Andhra-Odisha Border division and Bhamragarh area committee (Maharashtra) of Maoists, they said.
They turned themselves in before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials here under the “Poona” Margem (from rehabilitation to social reintegration) initiative, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said.
According to the official, the cadres also said that they were impressed by the state government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy.
Of them, Lakkhu Karam, alias Anil (32), a divisional committee member, and platoon party committee members Laxmi Madvi (28) and Chinni Sodhi, alias Shanti (28), carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, he said.
Thirteen other cadres carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh each, 19 cadres Rs 2 lakh each and 14 cadres Rs 1 lakh each, he said, adding that 49 of the 52 surrendered Naxalites carried a collective reward of Rs 1.41 crore.
All the surrendered Naxalites will be provided an immediate assistance of Rs 50,000 each and rehabilitated as per the government’s policy, he added.
On Wednesday, 29 naxalites surrendered in the neighbouring Sukma district. Earlier, 63 Naxalites surrendered in the neighbouring Dantewada district on January 8, while 26 cadres shunned violence and joined the mainstream in Sukma on January 7.
More than 1,500 Naxalites surrendered in the state in 2025.
The Centre has resolved to eliminate Naxalism from the country by March 31 this year.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Haj 2026: Government extends deadline for pilgrims booking through HGOs to January 25
New Delhi: The Union government has granted a final extension till January 25, 2026, for pilgrims booking Haj 2026 through Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) and Private Tour Operators (PTOs) to complete all required formalities.
In a circular issued on January 15, the Ministry of Minority Affairs said the decision was taken after receiving representations from pilgrims and other stakeholders seeking more time to complete booking-related procedures.
Earlier, provisionally selected pilgrims had been asked to finish all prescribed codal formalities, including booking requirements, by January 15, 2026, in line with deadlines set by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ministry said the extension has been granted keeping in mind the larger interest of pilgrims.
As per the revised advisory, pilgrims must complete the booking process, submit valid passports to the Haj Committee of India or the concerned HGOs, and ensure successful onboarding on the Nusuk Portal within the extended timeline.
The ministry has also cautioned pilgrims to verify the registration status, quota, and approval of the concerned HGO or PTO before making any booking, and to ensure that bookings are made only through authorised operators.
The government has made it clear that this is the final extension and that no further relaxation will be granted beyond January 25, 2026, under any circumstances.
