Raipur: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chhattisgarh, 50 Maoists, including some top-ranking cadres, surrendered before security forces in the Bijapur district of the state on Sunday.
As many as 134 Maoists have been killed in encounters with security forces in less than three months in Chhattisgarh. Of them, 118 were killed in the Bastar Division.
According to officials, 14 of the surrendered rebels have a combined bounty of Rs 68 lakh on their heads. Their surrender was orchestrated by the state police and central armed police forces, including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), and the CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit.
Bijapur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jitendra Kumar Yadav stated that the insurgents cited “disillusionment with the Maoist ideology, internal conflicts, and exploitation of tribals by senior cadres” as their primary reasons for laying down arms.
He further credited the ‘Niya Nellanar’ (Your Good Village) initiative, aimed at improving basic amenities in remote regions, as a crucial factor in influencing their decision.
Among those who surrendered, six carried a bounty of Rs 8 lakh each, three had Rs 5 lakh rewards, and five others had bounties of Rs 1 lakh. Notable names include Ravindra Karam, a member of PLGA Battalion No 1 with a Rs 8 lakh bounty, and Bhima Oyam, an area committee member of the National Park Area Committee, who had been involved in insurgency for over 25 years and carried a Rs 5 lakh bounty.
Union home minister Amit Shah commended Chhattisgarh’s success in countering Maoist insurgency, asserting that “with each successful operation and rehabilitation initiative, India moves closer to becoming a Maoist-free nation.” He reiterated the government’s firm stance, stating that “Maoist violence has no place in a democratic society.”
The recent surrender underscores a growing disenchantment within Maoist ranks, as security forces continue to tighten their grip on insurgent strongholds. Officials believe this shift reflects the expanding influence of governance and development programs in previously Maoist-dominated regions.
The security forces eliminated 18 insurgents, including 11 women, in separate encounters in Sukma and Bijapur districts on Saturday. These operations align with the ongoing mission to eradicate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 792 Maoists have surrendered in the Bastar region in 2024.
