In a significant blow to Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh, 21 cadres, including 13 women, surrendered to authorities in Kanker district on Sunday. This mass surrender, facilitated by the ‘Poona Margem: Rehabilitation through Reintegration’ initiative, saw the Maoists 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, along with a Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL). Officials highlighted that the group included key figures like Division Committee Secretary Mukesh, four divisional committee members, and nine area committee members, primarily belonging to the Kuemari/Kiskodo Area Committee of the Keshkal Division. This development underscores the effectiveness of the Bastar Range police’s efforts to encourage former insurgents to rejoin mainstream society.
