‘Say it like this: It was an attack on law enforcement,’ Vance insisted, revealing the officer’s prior trauma—being dragged by a vehicle and suffering 33 leg stitches just months earlier. This history, he argued, justified the agent’s heightened vigilance when the woman allegedly moved to obstruct the operation again.

Vance didn’t mince words on media bias: ‘You’re not journalists anymore; you’re propaganda machines making law enforcement impossible.’ Dismissing calls to wait for the investigation, he stressed known facts: illegal interference posed a clear threat to the officer’s safety.

Pushing back on narratives painting the woman as innocent, Vance drew a line: ‘Fine, discuss intent. But don’t spread lies that an ICE agent murdered an innocent bystander.’ He called for accountability at the top—target politicians, not officers enforcing voter-mandated policies.

On unity, Vance flipped the script: ‘Your reporting is the tension. This is the most misreported story I’ve seen.’ Citing falling crime rates thanks to bold policing, he demanded better: ‘Stop signaling that self-defense equals guilt. Be more careful.’

The Vice President’s remarks underscore a growing rift between the administration and mainstream media, as debates rage over immigration enforcement and press responsibility in high-stakes incidents.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav attributed the surrenders to the effectiveness of the government’s new rehabilitation policy and the ‘Poona Margham’ initiative. This Bastar range police drive aims to reintegrate former Naxalites into society through comprehensive rehabilitation programs. Many of the surrendered individuals expressed their desire for a peaceful and dignified life within the constitutional framework.

The surrendered group included members from various Naxalite factions and leadership positions. Notably, four were part of PLGA Battalion No. 1, several held roles in area committees, and others were platoon members or militia commanders. A substantial majority, 39 out of the 41, were associated with the south sub-zonal bureau, linked to key committees and regional divisions of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit.

Nine of the surrendered Naxalites, including Pandru Hapka alias Mohan and Manjula Hemla, each carried a substantial reward of Rs 8 lakh on their heads. The total bounty on the 32 individuals amounted to Rs 1.19 crore, underscoring their former roles within the organization. Other cadres had bounties ranging from Rs 5 lakh down to Rs 1 lakh, reflecting their varying levels of involvement.

Since January 2024 alone, Bijapur has witnessed the surrender of 790 Maoist cadres. This latest group joins a growing number of individuals choosing to abandon violence. The police department is actively encouraging remaining Naxalites to return to mainstream society, assuring them of a secure and self-reliant future through rehabilitation policies and initiatives like ‘Poona Margham’.