Madhya Pradesh: 23-year-old woman Maoist surrenders in Balaghat; first case under 2023 rehabilitation policy

BHOPAL: A 23-year-old woman Maoist from Chhattisgarh surrendered before the Hawk Force in Balaghat district on October 31 — the first such surrender since the state implemented its new Naxalite Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy in August 2023.The woman, identified as Sunita, daughter of Visru and a resident of Virman village in the Indravati area of Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, surrendered around 4am at an under-construction Hawk Force camp in the remote Chauriya area, nearly 110 km from the district headquarters.According to police sources, Sunita was an Area Committee Member (ACM) and part of the guard unit of Central Committee Member (CCM) Ramder, a senior Maoist leader operating in the Indravati and Maad regions.

She was carrying an INSAS rifle with three magazines at the time of her surrender.Sunita had joined the banned Maoist organisation in 2022. After undergoing six months of arms and ideological training in the Maad region, she was deployed as part of Ramder’s personal security team, operating in the forest belts of Indravati, Maad, and Darrekasa.In recent weeks, she had reportedly arrived in the Darrekasa area with 11 members of Ramder’s squad.

However, in the early hours of October 31, she quietly separated from the group, carrying her weapon, uniform, and backpack. Before approaching the police camp, she hid her INSAS rifle, magazines, and Maoist kit in a forest dump to avoid being traced by her unit. She then walked several kilometres through the jungle to reach the Chauriya Hawk Force camp, where she expressed her desire to surrender.Initial interrogation and debriefing revealed that top Maoist leader Ramder had told his cadres that several senior members — including Sonu Dada and Rupesh Dada — had already surrendered in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, prompting others in the group to consider following suit.Two members of the team, identified as Yogesh and Malles, are reported to have already left the organisation. The remaining members — Rohit, Vimla, Tulsi, Chandu Dada, Prem, Ashwire, and Sagar — were last seen moving towards Chilaura to execute an attack on a local resident, Devendra, according to Sunita’s statement.Officials described Sunita’s surrender as a significant achievement for the state’s new Maoist surrender policy, which aims to encourage lower- and mid-level cadres to give up arms and reintegrate into society.

Police sources said the matter of whether the surrendered woman would be provided benefits under the policy is being looked into. Separate search operations are under way to recover the hidden rifle and locate the remaining members of her group.Although the exact reason behind her surrender is not yet clear, insiders claim she was being defamed within the group over her relationship, leading to her decision to surrender.The surrender is being seen as a morale boost for security agencies operating along the Maoist-affected Balaghat–Chhattisgarh border region, where joint forces have intensified operations in recent months. Officials said the 2023 surrender policy reflects a “rehabilitation-first but accountability-driven” approach, combining incentives for those leaving extremism with deterrents against exploitation.First Maoist surrender under MP’s 2023 policy: State’s new plan focuses on rehabilitation with accountabilityThe surrender of a 23-year-old woman Maoist from Chhattisgarh in Balaghat district on October 31 marks the first surrender under the Madhya Pradesh Naxalite Surrender, Rehabilitation-cum-Relief Policy 2023, notified in August 2023. The new framework replaces the 26-year-old 1997 policy and is designed to reintegrate Left-Wing Extremists (LWEs) into the mainstream through rehabilitation, livelihood support, and accountability measures.Objective and focusThe policy aims to encourage Maoist cadres to voluntarily surrender and abandon violence, while creating opportunities for employment, livelihood, and entrepreneurship. It also seeks to prevent “tactical surrenders” by those attempting to exploit government benefits. Additionally, it provides relief and compensation to victims of Naxal violence.A key feature allows authorities to appoint a surrendered cadre as a constable in the district police force — subject to senior officers’ approval — if the person provides crucial assistance in anti-Naxal operations or faces life threats after surrender.Eligibility and surrender processThe policy applies to members and functionaries of banned Maoist organisations who voluntarily surrender, with or without arms. Those seeking rehabilitation must:

A State-Level Inquiry Committee will decide within 30 days whether to accept or reject each surrender proposal. Only approved cases will qualify for benefits under the scheme.District-level mechanismEach Naxal-affected district will have a District-Level Rehabilitation and Relief Committee, chaired by the District Magistrate and comprising the Superintendent of Police (Member-Secretary), CEO of Zila Panchayat, Divisional Forest Officer, General Manager of District Industry Centre, and District Project Officer of the State Rural Livelihood Mission.Financial benefits and incentivesThe policy provides structured ex gratia and rehabilitation assistance to surrendered Maoists based on the weapons deposited:

Additional incentives include:

Access to Ayushman Bharat health benefits and subsidised food grainsCriminal trials for heinous offences will continue, but the government may consider withdrawing cases on a case-by-case basis in the public interest.Relief for victims of Naxal violence

One eligible family member of a deceased victim will also be appointed to a Grade-III or Grade-IV government post, while all affected families will continue to receive food and healthcare benefits.