In a significant win for Chhattisgarh’s anti-insurgency efforts, 21 Maoist cadres, including 13 women, voluntarily surrendered to authorities in the Kanker district on Sunday. This mass surrender, facilitated by the ‘Poona Margem: Rehabilitation through Reintegration’ initiative, saw the cadres lay down a substantial cache of 18 weapons. Among the surrendered arms were powerful firearms such as three AK-47s, two INSAS rifles, four SLR rifles, six .303 rifles, and two single-shot rifles, alongside a crucial Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL). Officials confirmed that the group included key figures like Division Committee Secretary Mukesh, four divisional committee members, and nine area committee members, alongside eight individuals from the movement’s lower ranks. These cadres were reportedly part of the Kuemari/Kiskodo Area Committee within the Keshkal Division of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). This development marks a notable success for the Bastar Range police’s ongoing rehabilitation programs aimed at bringing former insurgents back into mainstream society.
