Raipur: In a significant breakthrough for security forces, six Maoist cadres, including four active in Odisha and two who had fled the outlawed outfit’s West Bastar division, surrendered before the Bijapur police in Chhattisgarh on Monday.
Among those who surrendered were four Party Political Cadre Members (PPCM) and two Party Members (PM), with three of them being women.
The surrendered operatives were identified as — Rani Sodhi alias Sandhya, Pando Podiyam alias Sasmita, Sukku Kudiyam alias Santosh, Kosa Madvi alias Satish, Deve Madkam alias Janni, and Lalu Tati.
The combined reward on their heads was Rs 35 lakh.
According to senior police officials, the surrender was facilitated through coordinated efforts by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) Bijapur, CRPF’s 170th Battalion and local police.
The Maoist cadres decided to renounce violence following sustained counter-insurgency operations, internal factionalism and disarray within their ranks, and mounting disillusionment with the outfit’s violent ideology.
They were also motivated by media reports highlighting successful rehabilitation and skill development of former insurgents, and ongoing development initiatives in tribal areas under the state government’s Naxal Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy.
Under Chhattisgarh’s rehabilitation framework, the former cadres will receive immediate financial assistance, skill training, housing support, and employment opportunities to help them reintegrate into mainstream society with dignity.
The district administration and police will provide continued guidance and assistance during rehabilitation process.
