Major Breakthrough: 28 Maoists With Rs 89 Lakh Bounty Surrender in Chhattisgarh Under Rehabilitation Initiatives

Around 2200 Maoists have surrendered in Chhattisgarh in the last 23 months.

Narayanpur:

Twenty-eight Maoists, 22 of them collectively carrying a reward of Rs 89 lakh on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Tuesday, according to official reports.

The cadres, including 19 women, turned themselves in before senior police officials, stating they were influenced by the 'Niyad Nellanar' (your good village) scheme implemented by the state government, the new surrender and rehabilitation policy, and "Poona Margham" (rehabilitation for social reintegration), as explained by Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar Range Sundarraj Pattilingam.

The Niyad Nellanar scheme focuses on facilitating development in remote villages, while Poona Margham represents a rehabilitation initiative launched by the Bastar Range police force.

Among the surrendered militants were four high-profile cadres: Pandi Dhruv alias Dinesh (33), a Divisional Committee member; Dule Mandavi alias Munni (26), Chhattis Poyam (18), and Padni Oyam (30), all members of military company no. 6 of the East Bastar division of Maoists. Each carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh on their head.

Other notable surrenders included Lakhmu Usendi (20), Sukmati Nureti (25), Sakila Kashyap (35), Shambatti Shori (35), Chaite alias Rajita (30), and Budhra Rava (28), all area committee members who had bounties of Rs 5 lakh each.

Dinesh, Lakhmu, and Sukmatri handed over significant weapons to the police, including a Self Loading Rifle (SLR), an Insas rifle, and one .303 rifle respectively.

IGP Pattilingam stated that the rehabilitation of 28 Maoist cadres in Narayanpur signals the imminent end of the violent and anti-people Maoist ideology. People are increasingly trusting the "Poona Margham" initiative and choosing peace and dignity over violence.

In the past 50 days alone, more than 512 Maoist cadres have abandoned violence and reintegrated into mainstream society across the seven districts comprising the Bastar range, including Narayanpur.

Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Robinson Guria reported that this latest surrender brings the total number of Maoist cadres who have quit violence and joined the mainstream in the district to 287 this year.

The remaining senior Maoist leaders, including politburo member Devji, Central Committee member Ramdar, Dandakaranya special zonal committee members Pappa Rao, Barse Deva and others, are now faced with limited options other than renouncing violence and joining mainstream society, according to Guria.

Police reports indicate that approximately 2200 Maoists, including top-ranking cadres, have surrendered in Chhattisgarh within the last 23 months.