What Happened
- Suresh Koda (alias Mustakim), described as Bihar's last active armed Maoist, surrendered before the Bihar Police's Special Task Force (STF) and the DIG of Munger on February 18, 2026 — carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh and wanted in 60 cases across Munger, Lakhisarai, and Jamui districts.
- Koda, a resident of Paisra village (Munger district) and an active member of the Special Area Committee (SAC), had been absconding for 25 years. He surrendered with illegal firearms including two INSAS rifles, one AK-47, one AK-56, 505 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines.
- The Bihar Police STF declared the state "Naxal-free" after Koda's surrender, attributing it to sustained anti-Maoist operations and the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy.
- This follows a series of surrenders: on December 28, 2025, three Maoist commanders (including zonal and sub-zonal commanders) surrendered; on July 27, 2025, another active member also surrendered.
- Under Bihar's surrender-cum-rehabilitation scheme, Koda is eligible for Rs 3 lakh (declared reward), Rs 5 lakh (incentive assistance), and Rs 3.6 lakh vocational training allowance over 36 months, plus weapon incentives totalling Rs 71,515.
Static Topic Bridges
Bihar and the History of Naxalism
Bihar was one of the earliest states affected by Naxalism following the 1967 Naxalbari uprising, particularly in its Bhojpur, Munger, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Aurangabad, and Gaya districts. The 1970s-80s saw intense class-based conflict between upper-caste private armies (like Ranvir Sena) and Maoist groups in the Gangetic plains. However, unlike Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Bihar's Maoist presence was concentrated in hilly, forested districts (Munger, Jamui, Gaya) rather than tribal heartlands, and the state began suppressing organised Maoist structures more effectively from the 2000s onward following targeted STF operations.
- Naxalbari uprising: May 1967, West Bengal — origin of Naxalite movement
- CPI (Maoist) formed: 2004 (merger of People's War Group + Maoist Communist Centre)
- SAC (Special Area Committee): Regional organisational unit of CPI (Maoist)
- Bihar STF: Bihar Police's Special Task Force, focused on counter-Naxal and organised crime operations
- Bihar's affected districts: Munger, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Gaya, Aurangabad (historically most active)
Connection to this news: Suresh Koda's surrender from Munger — historically one of Bihar's most active Maoist districts — effectively ends organised armed Maoist presence in a state where the insurgency predates the CPI (Maoist)'s formation, representing a multi-decade security achievement.
Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy for Maoists
State governments in LWE-affected areas run surrender-cum-rehabilitation schemes to encourage armed cadres to reintegrate into mainstream society. These policies combine financial incentives (cash grants, weapon surrender bonuses), skill development (vocational training allowances), and social rehabilitation (housing, education assistance for children). Bihar's scheme is among the more generous at the state level, complementing the Union government's broader SAMADHAN strategy for LWE eradication.
- Bihar scheme components for Suresh Koda's case:
- Declared reward: Rs 3 lakh
- Incentive assistance: Rs 5 lakh
- Vocational training allowance: Rs 3.6 lakh (Rs 10,000/month × 36 months)
- Weapon/ammunition incentive: Rs 71,515
- SAMADHAN strategy (MHA): Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation and training, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard-based KPIs, Harnessing technology, Action plan for each theatre, No access to financing
- Union government deadline: Eliminate LWE from India by March 2026
Connection to this news: The combination of sustained security operations and Bihar's rehabilitation scheme is officially credited with Koda's surrender — demonstrating that the two-track approach (security pressure + exit pathway) is more effective than hard enforcement alone.
Red Corridor: Shrinkage Over 15 Years
The "Red Corridor" refers to the contiguous belt of districts across eastern-central India where Maoist/Naxalite influence was historically concentrated. At its peak around 2010, Maoist violence spanned over 200 districts across 20 states; by 2026, it is confined to roughly 25-30 districts primarily in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, with Bihar and Andhra Pradesh effectively cleared. MHA data shows LWE violence declined 88% between 2010 and 2025, with annual deaths falling from 1,005 to 100.
- Red Corridor at peak (2010): 200+ districts, 20 states
- Red Corridor now (2026): ~25-30 districts, primarily Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand
- States effectively cleared: Bihar, Andhra Pradesh (split off Telangana), parts of Odisha and Maharashtra
- LWE violence decline: 88% (2010-2025, per Amit Shah, Parliament 2026)
- Deaths decline: 90%, from 1,005 (2010) to 100 (2025)
- Remaining active Maoist operatives nationally: ~300
Connection to this news: Bihar's declaration as Naxal-free reduces the Red Corridor to its narrowest point in history — now concentrated almost entirely in the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border and parts of Jharkhand — setting the stage for the national elimination target by March 2026.
Key Facts & Data
- Last Bihar Maoist: Suresh Koda, alias Mustakim, surrendered February 18, 2026
- Reward on Koda: Rs 3 lakh; cases against him: 60 (across Munger, Lakhisarai, Jamui)
- Abscondance period: 25 years
- Weapons surrendered: 2 INSAS + 1 AK-47 + 1 AK-56 + 505 rounds + 10 magazines
- Bihar rehabilitation package: Rs 3L reward + Rs 5L incentive + Rs 3.6L vocational training = ~Rs 11.6 lakh total
- National LWE deadline: March 2026 (Amit Shah's target)
- Active Maoists remaining nationally: ~300
- LWE deaths decline: 90%, from 1,005 (2010) to 100 (2025)