Goa, Oct. 17 -- In a major breakthrough against left-wing extremism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Thursday that 258 Maoists have surrendered in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra over the past two days.

Shah highlighted that 170 Maoists laid down their arms in Chhattisgarh on Thursday, following the surrender of 27 insurgents in the state a day earlier, while 61 militants gave up arms in Maharashtra. He emphasized that two of Chhattisgarh's worst-affected regions are now free from Maoist terror.

"I applaud their decision to renounce violence and place their trust in the Constitution of India. This is a testament to the fact that Naxalism is breathing its last, thanks to the relentless efforts of the PM-led government to end this...