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Red corridor to white flag: The lives of former Naxalites

From January 1 to December 15, a total of 1,552 Maoist cadres have surrendered

Published on: Dec 24, 2025, 04:28:02 IST
By Ritesh Mishra
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Last Thursday marked two months of his surrender. A winter sun hung gently over Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh that day as Rupesh, whose real name is Takkallapalli Vasudeva Rao, sat under a mahua tree inside the police training centre, a yellow cap on his head and an old digital watch, the kind that went out of vogue in the 1980s but is strangely seeing a resurgence now, around his wrist.

PREMIUMSurrendered Maoists (from L to R), Dhannu, Rajman, Chaitu and Rupesh. (HT PHOTO)
Surrendered Maoists (from L to R), Dhannu, Rajman, Chaitu and Rupesh. (HT PHOTO)

The forest was no longer his world, but the one waiting beyond

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra

Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.

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