Five Maoist cadres, four of whom are women, surrendered to security forces in Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh. The surrender took place at the Police Lines in Karli under the Puna Margem initiative, focusing on rehabilitating former extremists. The cadres gave up their arms, expressing disillusionment with the Maoist organization’s declining strength.
The surrendered individuals included Some Kadti, a 42-year-old member of the Bhairamgarh Area Committee from Bijapur district, with a reward of five lakh rupees. Additionally, Lakhma Oyam (19), Sarita Podiyam (21), Jogi Kalmu (20), and Moti Oyam (19) from Bijapur district also surrendered. Acting on intelligence provided by these former Maoists, security forces recovered 40 weapons from Maoist arms caches, significantly impacting the group’s capabilities.
Dantewada has witnessed success in its anti-Maoist efforts, with 607 Maoist cadres surrendering in the district since the beginning of 2024. During the same period, 92 Maoists were arrested, and 54 were killed in encounters. Joint operations with neighboring districts have also been fruitful, leading to the neutralization of key Maoist figures. The event was attended by senior officials, highlighting the commitment to providing rehabilitation and security to those renouncing violence.
The “Puna Margem” initiative in Bastar aims to ensure a secure and dignified life for former Maoists, fostering peace, development, and trust in the region. With ongoing surrenders and significant weapons recovery, the Maoist movement in Bastar is steadily weakening. The Union government is actively supporting the rehabilitation of surrendered Maoist cadres to facilitate their reintegration into society.
