In a significant development in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, 41 Maoist cadres, including 12 women, laid down their arms on Wednesday. The surrender marks a major success for law enforcement, as 32 of the individuals carried a combined bounty totaling Rs 1.19 crore. Officials reported that these cadres surrendered before senior police officers, signaling a shift away from armed struggle.
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav attributed the surrenders to the effectiveness of the government’s new rehabilitation policy and the ‘Poona Margham’ initiative. This Bastar range police drive aims to reintegrate former Naxalites into society through comprehensive rehabilitation programs. Many of the surrendered individuals expressed their desire for a peaceful and dignified life within the constitutional framework.
The surrendered group included members from various Naxalite factions and leadership positions. Notably, four were part of PLGA Battalion No. 1, several held roles in area committees, and others were platoon members or militia commanders. A substantial majority, 39 out of the 41, were associated with the south sub-zonal bureau, linked to key committees and regional divisions of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit.
Nine of the surrendered Naxalites, including Pandru Hapka alias Mohan and Manjula Hemla, each carried a substantial reward of Rs 8 lakh on their heads. The total bounty on the 32 individuals amounted to Rs 1.19 crore, underscoring their former roles within the organization. Other cadres had bounties ranging from Rs 5 lakh down to Rs 1 lakh, reflecting their varying levels of involvement.
Since January 2024 alone, Bijapur has witnessed the surrender of 790 Maoist cadres. This latest group joins a growing number of individuals choosing to abandon violence. The police department is actively encouraging remaining Naxalites to return to mainstream society, assuring them of a secure and self-reliant future through rehabilitation policies and initiatives like ‘Poona Margham’.