In a significant breakthrough for Chhattisgarh’s campaign against Left-Wing Extremism, 52 cadres of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) surrendered before security forces in the Bastar region, officials said.
The surrendered group included 21 women and 31 men, together carrying rewards amounting to Rs 1.41 crore.
The surrender ceremony took place under the theme ‘Poona Margem: Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation, A New Beginning of Peace and Trust’, highlighting the state government’s rehabilitation policy and development initiatives, such as Niyad Nella Nar, aimed at restoring normalcy in remote areas.
The surrendered Maoists belonged to several major outfits, including the South Sub-Zonal Bureau, the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, the Andhra-Odisha Border Division, and the Bhamragarh Area Committee.
Officials said their decision to abandon armed struggle was the result of sustained joint operations by the District Reserve Guard, Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force, CoBRA, and the CRPF, combined with continuous appeals for peace and development.
Among those who surrendered were several high-profile cadres, including Lakkhu Karam alias Anil, a DVC member carrying an Rs 8 lakh reward, and Lakshmi Madvi alias Ratna, a PPC member with an identical bounty.
Other surrendered members included Chinni Sodhi alias Shanti, Bhima Karam, Vishnu Mandavi alias Kiran alias Moti, and Moti Korsa, all of whom held key roles and carried rewards ranging between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 8 lakh.
The group also comprised ACMs, PPC members, militia commanders, and leaders associated with various Maoist organisations, committees, and Janatana Sarkar structures.
Police Call Surrender a Turning Point
Superintendent of Police Dr Jitendra Kumar Yadav, who presided over the ceremony along with senior CRPF and police officials, termed the surrender a pivotal moment in the fight against extremism.
He said the cadres had realised the futility of violence and were now opting for a path of progress through rehabilitation programmes offering financial assistance, skill development, housing, and employment opportunities.
The latest development adds to Bijapur district’s growing record, with security forces securing the surrender of 824 Maoist cadres, arresting 1,126 others, and killing 223 in encounters since January 2024.
Across Chhattisgarh, more than 2,000 Maoists have surrendered under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, in line with the Union Home Ministry’s goal of eliminating Left-Wing Extremism by 2026.
Officials believe the mass surrender will encourage more cadres to defect, accelerating peace in Bastar.
The move follows similar large-scale surrenders in Dantewada and Sukma earlier this month, indicating a steady erosion of Maoist influence in the region.
One former cadre summed up the sentiment, saying: “We were misled by anti-people ideology; now, we seek a life of trust and development.”
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