In a significant development for Chhattisgarh’s anti-Maoist campaign, 52 members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) have surrendered to security forces in the Bastar region. The surrender, part of the “Poona Margem: Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation – A New Beginning of Peace and Trust” initiative, highlights the success of the state government’s rehabilitation policy and development efforts like ‘Niyad Nella Nar’.
The surrendered group includes 21 women and 31 men, with a combined bounty of Rs 1.41 crore. These individuals were affiliated with key Maoist groups such as the South Sub-Zonal Bureau, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, Andhra-Odisha Border Division, and Bhamragarh Area Committee. Their decision to renounce violence was influenced by ongoing joint operations by security forces like the District Reserve Guard, Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force, CoBRA, and CRPF, as well as appeals for peace and progress.
Among the surrendered members were notable figures like Lakkhu Karam alias Anil and Lakshmi Madvi alias Ratna, each with bounties of Rs 8 lakh. The group also included individuals with roles in various Maoist organizations, militia commanders, and leaders associated with Janatana Sarkar. The surrender event, overseen by Superintendent of Police Dr. Jitendra Kumar Yadav, was hailed as a crucial step in combating extremism, with a focus on rehabilitation programs offering financial support, skill training, housing, and employment opportunities.
This surrender contributes to the success story of Bijapur, where 824 cadres have surrendered, 1,126 have been arrested, and 223 have been neutralized since January 2024. Statewide, over 2,000 Maoists have surrendered under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s leadership, aligning with the Union Home Ministry’s goal of eradicating Left-Wing Extremism by 2026. Authorities anticipate that this recent surrender will encourage more defections, hastening the path to peace in Bastar.
The surrender follows similar mass surrenders in Dantewada and Sukma earlier this month, indicating a diminishing Maoist presence in the region. A former cadre expressed the prevailing sentiment, stating, “We were misled by anti-people ideology; now, we seek a life of trust and development.”
