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Inspired by the ongoing ‘Lon Varratu’ (Come Back Home) campaign in Dantewada district, eight Maoists, including two with cash rewards, surrendered on Saturday.
A police official said most of the surrendered Maoists were members of CNM (Chetna Natya Manch), the cultural front of the CPI (Maoist), active in Rewali and Kakanadi Panchayats.
One was a Timnar GRD member. Another belonged to the Bhairamgarh Area Student Organisation. Two others were Bhumkal Militia members from Pomra Panchayat.
Mangdu Madkam from Tekalguda and Deva Ram Kunjam from Rewali, both CNM members, carried rewards of ₹50,000 each, said officials.
They were involved in road digging and putting up Naxal banners and posters in their areas, the official added.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P, the district police, and the CRPF have led the surrender outreach efforts.
Officials said the campaign and the Chhattisgarh government’s rehabilitation policy are widely publicised in villages.
This push has led to a steady flow of Maoist surrender in Dantewada, from both high-level and lower-rank cadres.
Disillusionment with Maoist ideology, internal group conflicts, and harsh living conditions in forests have driven many to surrender.
On April 12, 2025, the eight Maoists surrendered at the office of DIG (Dantewada Range) Kamalochan Kashyap.
The RFT (Intelligence Branch) Dantewada and the 111th and 230th CRPF Battalions played a major role in this effort.
Under the rehab policy, each surrendered Maoist will receive ₹50,000, training, and agricultural land.
Since the start of the ‘Lon Varratu’ campaign, 961 Maoists, including 226 with rewards, have laid down arms.
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