41 Naxalites Surrender in Bijapur

Forty-one Naxalites, including 32 who collectively carried rewards worth Rs 1.19 crore, surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Wednesday, officials said.

The cadres among them 12 women surrendered before senior police officials, stating they were influenced by the state government’s revised surrender and rehabilitation policy and the Bastar police’s “Poona Margham” social reintegration initiative, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said.

Of the surrendered Maoists, four were members of the PLGA’s battalion no. 1 and other companies, three were from area committees, 11 were platoon and area committee party members, two were PLGA members, four militia platoon commanders, one deputy commander, six militia platoon members, and the remaining were attached to frontal outfits of the CPI (Maoist), Yadav said.

Thirty-nine of the 41 cadres were linked to the south sub-zonal bureau of the Maoists. They were associated with units under the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, the Telangana State Committee, and the Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada divisions, he added.

The cadres expressed faith in the Constitution and pledged to lead a peaceful and dignified life within the democratic framework. Each was given an immediate assistance of Rs 50,000 as per the rehabilitation policy.

Among the prominent surrendering members were Pandru Hapka alias Mohan (37), Bandi Hapka (35), Lakkhu Korsa (37), Badru Punem (35), Sukhram Hemla (27), Manjula Hemla (25), Mangali Madvi alias Shanti (29), Jairam Kadiyam (28) and Pando Madkam alias Chandni (35) all of whom carried rewards of Rs 8 lakh each.

Three cadres carried rewards of Rs 5 lakh, twelve had Rs 2 lakh each, and eight carried Rs 1 lakh each.

SP Yadav said the government’s rehabilitation policy has encouraged a steady rise in surrenders. He urged other Maoists to abandon violence and return to society without fear, stating that Poona Margham ensures a secure and self-reliant future for those who surrender.

With Wednesday’s surrender, a total of 790 Maoist cadres have joined the mainstream in Bijapur district since January 2024. During the same period, 202 Naxalites were killed in encounters and 1,031 were arrested, he said.

Across Chhattisgarh, more than 2,200 Naxalites, including several top cadres, have surrendered in the past 23 months, according to police.