The ceremony was attended by CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Chhattisgarh Police Additional Director General Vivekananda Sinha, Bastar Inspector General P. Sundarraj, Sukma District Collector Amit Kumar, and other senior officials.

District Collector Amit Kumar outlined development projects planned for Tadmetla to enhance local infrastructure while paying tribute to the martyrs. He stated, “Approval has been granted for a road project worth Rs 4 crore at the site where 76 soldiers were martyred. Work on this road is set to commence within one month.”

He also provided updates on housing and civic facilities under construction, saying, “A review was also conducted regarding the approved Pradhan Mantri Awas Scheme units in Tadmetla village. Currently, more than 50 such houses are under construction, along with the primary school and Panchayat Bhawan.”

The Collector emphasised that these initiatives aim to provide lasting infrastructure and support for the local population, honouring the sacrifices of the security personnel.

Bastar Inspector General P. Sundarraj paid tribute to all who have lost their lives in the region while protecting civilians and maintaining peace. He said, “For the sake of peace, security, and development in the Bastar region, the local populace, along with deployed security forces, local police, the CRPF, and other central security forces, made the supreme sacrifice.”

Highlighting the enduring impact of the conflict, he added, “Speaking specifically of Bastar-Sukma, over the past 30 to 40 years, more than 1,500 personnel from both local and central security forces have laid down their lives in the interest of the region and its people. Furthermore, over 2,100 innocent villagers have lost their lives in Naxal-related incidents.”

Concluding his tribute, Sundarraj said, “Today, we pay homage to all these martyrs and honour their supreme sacrifice.”

On March 31, Sukma district was declared completely free of Maoist influence after two female Naxalites surrendered and underwent rehabilitation, Superintendent of Police Sukma Kiran G Chavan stated.

SP Chavan said the two women were members of Company Number 8 of the Naxalite organisation and had a combined bounty of Rs 16 lakh on their heads. Speaking to ANI, he said, “Today, March 31, 2026, in the Sukma district, two female Naxalites have surrendered and undergone rehabilitation. They were members of Company Number 8 of the Naxalite organisation. A bounty of Rs 16 lakhs had been placed on their heads…”

He added that weapons and cash were recovered during the process. “6 automatic weapons, including one INSAS LMG, two AK-47s, and three other firearms, along with roughly Rs 10 lakh in cash, were recovered from them…”

He noted, “Following this surrender, the Sukma district has been declared completely free of Maoist influence.”