Female Maoist Commander With Rs 5 Lakh Bounty Surrenders in Chhattisgarh: Part of Growing Defection Trend

Geeta has been granted an immediate incentive of Rs 50,000, with additional rehabilitation benefits in progress.

In a continuing series of defections from the insurgency, Geeta, also known as Kamli Salam, a female Maoist commander operating in Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district, turned herself in to police authorities on Saturday.

Her surrender comes just one day following the largest mass surrender in the state's history, when 210 Naxalites, including high-ranking leaders, relinquished their arms in Jagdalpur, signaling a profound shift in the region's long-standing conflict.

Geeta, who functioned as the Maoists Tailor Team Commander in the East Bastar Division, had a Rs 5 lakh bounty placed on her by the Chhattisgarh government.

She surrendered before Superintendent of Police Akshay Kumar, expressing disillusionment with the movement and inspiration from the recent wave of surrenders.

Police sources indicate that her decision was influenced by intensified "anti-Naxal" operations, growing internal discord within the movement, and the symbolic act of rebels embracing the Indian Constitution during Friday's ceremony in Jagdalpur.

The Jagdalpur surrender featured 210 Maoists, including a Central Committee member and four Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee leaders, who collectively surrendered 153 weapons ranging from AK-47s to grenade launchers.

The event, attended by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, was celebrated as evidence of the government's strategy prioritizing trust, dialogue, and development over violence. Geeta's surrender further contributes to this momentum.

Under the Chhattisgarh Naxalism Eradication Policy, Geeta has received an immediate incentive of Rs 50,000, with further rehabilitation benefits forthcoming.

Officials stated that her reintegration will follow the state's comprehensive framework designed to restore lives previously lost to extremism. Her return to mainstream society symbolizes a broader disintegration within Maoist ranks.

With 238 rebels surrendering over the past three days, including Friday's mass defection, the Bastar region is experiencing a rare moment of hope.

Security forces believe this trend could represent a turning point in the battle against Left-Wing Extremism.

As the state continues its dual approach combining security force pressure with rehabilitation outreach, Geeta's story may serve as a powerful narrative for others still involved with the insurgency.

Her surrender, though individual, reflects the collective reassessment of a movement losing its influence in a region it once firmly controlled.