Chhattisgarh: 51 armed Maoists surrender in Sukma & Bijapur, carry rewards over a crore

RAIPUR: In one of the biggest coordinated surrender breakthroughs and hour before Union home minister Amit Shah's Chhattisgarh arrival, 51 Maoist cadres — including senior leaders, women fighters and armed operatives — laid down weapons in Bastar region on Friday, signalling a deepening erosion of the insurgent network in its last remaining strongholds of Bijapur and Sukma.The surrenders also coincided with the visit of President to Bastar.Amidst security officials under immense pressure to eliminate armed Maoists by March 31, the deadline set by Centre, the shrinking numbers of cadres have made the task even more difficult as the remaining ones have scattered in small groups- as little as five to six-in corners of villages and forests. Security personnel said that more than 150 armed and active Maoists are still present in Bastar, mainly in southern region.

In Bijapur district, 30 Maoists including 20 women, associated with the south sub-zonal bureau surrendered before senior police officers and central force commanders. The group carried a combined reward of ₹85 lakh.Sukma SP Kiran Chavan said the surrendered group included four area committee members (ACMs), one PPCM, three Janatana Sarkar presidents, company members and party members, some of whom had been active in Indravati national park area committee, Gangloor area committee and west Bastar division.

Since January 2024, Bijapur district has witnessed 918 Maoists returning to the mainstream, 1,163 arrests and 232 Maoists killed in encounters.The cadres voluntarily deposited cordex wire and gelatin sticks, and were immediately brought under the legal and rehabilitation framework of the state’s surrender policy. 21 Maoists lay down arms in SukmaOn the same day, 21 Maoists — including three divisional committee members (DVCMs) and five ACMs — surrendered in Sukma and they carried a cumulative reward of ₹76 lakh along with handing over a significant cache of weapons and explosives.Among the surrendered were cadres active across Darbhа division, south Bastar division, Odisha and the Indravati area committee, many of whom had been involved in armed actions for over a decade.The surrendered arms included three AK-47 rifles, two SLRs, one INSAS rifle, three BGL launchers, magazines, live ammunition, cordex wire, gelatin sticks and detonators, officials said.Comprehensive development is reaching Bastar, CM Sai says after Maoists' surrenderChief minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that Maoists have decided to surrender and return to the mainstream of society with rewards totalling over a crore.

This is a positive outcome of our sustained efforts towards peace, trust and development in Bastar, he said."Over the past two years, comprehensive development — including roads, education, healthcare and communication facilities — has reached remote areas of Bastar. This has encouraged misguided youth to renounce violence and join the mainstream, reflecting the effectiveness of the policy of good governance," Sai said.The sustained efforts of state and Centre, Bastar is steadily moving towards rapid and inclusive development, CM said.‘Organisation shrinking, morale collapsing’Bastar range IG P Sundarraj attributed the twin surrenders to expanded security camps in remote interiors, improved road connectivity, relentless operations by DRG, district force, STF, COBRA units and CRPF battalions, and the growing reach of government welfare schemes in once-cut-off villages.Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav appealed to remaining Maoists to abandon violence, stating that ‘Puna Margeim’ campaign guarantees safety, dignity and a self-reliant future for those willing to return to the constitutional fold.With Maoist mobility curtailed, leadership thinning and recruitment drying up, security agencies believe the insurgency is now facing irreversible organisational fatigue, said officials.